There are numerous laws and policies governing the management of natural resources in Thailand, especially concerning forest management issues. This legislation is under the responsibility of several government agencies that are empowered to oversee the utilization, management, development, and conservation of natural resources. Currently, there are five laws governing forest supervision that could be divided into two categories: economic utilization and protection. Laws dealing with the economic utilization of forests include the Forestry Act of 1941 and the Forest Protection Act of 1992. Legislation emphasizing the protection of flora and fauna includes the National Park Act of 1961, National Forest Reserve Act of 1964, and the conservation and Protection of Wildlife Act of 1992.
For over a century, enforcing these laws has largely been a function of the Royal Forest Department(RFD), which is authorized to act as the sole manager of forest land throughout the country. Different groups within the society, however, periodically challenge this authority, most frequently forest-dependent communities. During the 1970's, when communist insurgents were active in the Northeast, there was a trend among policy makers to liberalize the allocation of public forest lands to rural communities through policies and program. With growing concerns over deforestation and lowland flooding in the 1980s, however, forest conservation gained new support. A National Forest Committee was established in 1985 to develop a strategy for forest resource development and conservation. Policies formulated by this committee required that the government maintain at least 40% of the total land area under forest including 25% under strict protection. The Cabinet incorporated the resolution into the 7th National Economic and Social Development Plan. Even more ambitious targets were designated in the Policy and Prospective Plan for Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality (1997-2016) that mandated that 50% of the country should be protected as forest cover, with at least 30% conserved, while the rest was considered economic forest. In 1989, all forest concessions were revoked,except in mangrove areas, due to a natural disaster in the southern provinces in the late 1988 that claimed many lives. In 1982, the government released a cabinet resolution identifying 25 major watershed in Thailand. The utilization categories were gradually developed between 1985 and 1995 with new areas designated up to the present time.

Watershed Classification and Recommended Land Use in Thailand

Watershed Class Characteristics and Major Land Use Recommended
1A) Protected forest and headwater source areas at high elevations and steep slopes. Primary headwater areas should remain permanent forest cover.
1B) Similar to 1A, but some areas were cleared for agricultural use or occupied by settlement. Primary headwater areas require special soil and water conservation measures, reforestation or maintained in permanent agro forestry.
2) Protected and/or economic forest at higher elevation with steep slopes. Landforms less erosive than 1A and 1B, secondary headwater areas may be used for grazing or cropping with soil and water conservation measures.
3) Uplands with steep slopes and less erosive landforms. Area may be used for economic forests, mining, grazing, fruit trees or certain agricultural crops with soil and water conservation measures.
4) Gently sloping lands suitable for contour cropping, fruit tree and grazing with moderate need of soil and water conservation measures.
5) Gentle to flat areas suitable for agricultural uses with fewer restrictions

Source: Chaleo K et al, 2004,Communities for Watershed Protection, Mae Khan, Thailand