DEFINING DEGRADATION - THE IMPACTS OF SWIDDEN ON FORESTS IN NORTHERN THAILAND

This paper reconsiders existing 'orthodox' definitions of forest degra dation by looking at the changes in vegetation caused by swidden farmi ng near three upland villages in Northern Thailand. It is argued that the common belief that swidden is a degrading land use, causing specie s loss, soil erosion, and water shortages, is highly simplistic. Inste ad, swidden should be evaluated in recognition of its great diversity in species encouraged; the economic uses of species; and the cultural needs and practices of different forest users. The case studies indica te that swiddens from Lawa and Karen ethnic groups may provide better land management and diversity than reforestation, largely because of t he practice of using 'relict emergents'-or retaining trees in cleared ground. But a different swidden system in one Akha village led to spec ies loss and less useful secondary regrowth. It is argued that environ mental policy makers should acknowledge that many secondary forest for mations in Thailand do not constitute degraded forest, and that defini ng degradation from the viewpoint of one ethnic group may avoid loss o f potentially valuable forest uses defined by others.