On September 22, 2026, Mr. Suchat Chomklin, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, representing the Thai government, together with Mr. Nikorn Sirarotchananon, Director-General of the Royal Forest Department (RFD), and their delegation, attended the Global Legal and Sustainable Timber Forum 2026 (GLSTF 2026) in Macao Special Administrative Region (Macao SAR), People's Republic of China. The international forum provides countries with an opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience while promoting cooperation in the legal timber trade, sustainable forest management and development of the timber industry throughout the supply chain.

In a keynote address at GLSTF 2026, Mr. Suchat said the government led by Prime Minister Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul places importance on expanding green areas alongside environmentally friendly economic and industrial development, with the aim of balancing natural resource conservation, economic opportunity and improvements in people's quality of life.

Thailand has continued revising laws and regulations to promote the planting and use of commercial timber. Trees planted on privately owned land or land under lawful possession may legally be grown, managed and utilized, reducing restrictions and creating opportunities for individuals, farmers and the private sector to develop commercial timber as both a source of income and raw material for domestic industries.

The government is also promoting fast-growing and high-value commercial tree species to expand green areas and increase domestic timber supplies. At the same time, it supports development of the industry throughout the value chain, from planting and management to processing and value addition. Priority is being given to timber from legal sources, sustainable forest management and transparent, traceable supply chains to build confidence among consumers and markets both domestically and internationally. Mr. Suchat said the promotion of commercial timber is also an important mechanism for moving Thailand toward a Low-Carbon Society by increasing green areas and greenhouse gas sinks, while ensuring efficient resource use and applying technology and innovation to improve timber-use efficiency and reduce environmental impacts. “The development of the modern timber industry cannot be undertaken by any one country alone. It requires international cooperation and participation from all sectors, including government, the private sector and civil society,” Mr. Suchat said. “Thailand is ready to use the GLSTF network to exchange knowledge, technology and good practices in promoting legal timber use while increasing green areas, creating economic opportunities and improving people's quality of life, leading toward a timber industry that grows in a balanced and sustainable manner over the long term.”