Sweden: Siltanews – News Desk
Sweden is setting its sights on transforming Thailand’s Phrae province into a comprehensive sustainable timber city, leveraging the region’s abundant natural resources and skilled craftsmanship in wood production.
The initiative comes as part of the LoCoFoRest (Locally Controlled Forest Restoration) project, supported by The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).
The project recently brought together 60 forestry industry representatives from Nepal, Ethiopia, Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand in Phrae province for a three-day workshop from January 15-17.
Phrae deputy governor Chaiyasit Chaisamrit highlighted that the province boasts the country’s fifth-largest natural forest area, with high-quality local teak wood suitable for industrial development. However, the region faces challenges as timber’s popularity is waning while agricultural expansion threatens forest areas.
Sweden’s successful strategy of “cutting down trees but getting forests” has since become a model for sustainable forestry, requiring three new trees to be planted for each one felled. This approach has helped Sweden increase its forest coverage from 30% to 70% whilst becoming one of the world’s top five wood and pulp exporters.
The Swedish model emphasizes that afforestation is crucial for carbon dioxide absorption and reducing global warming. However, it recognizes that forests must generate competitive income to incentivize preservation and expansion. Sweden’s market-led approach has developed a comprehensive timber industry whilst maintaining extensive forest coverage.
The project aims to facilitate work exchanges between Phrae residents and Swedish industries. Beyond furniture production, the initiative envisions developing climate-resilient wooden high-rise buildings that can serve as carbon sequesters. The project has garnered support from various stakeholders, including the Thai-Nordic Innovation Unit under the Thai Embassy in Nordic countries, working in collaboration with government agencies, private sector partners, and local communities.