CIA, 2002

1
Ecosystems of Northern Thailand

• Mountainous area intersected by flat-bottomed
  valleys
• Dry and mixed deciduous up to 800m, with mixed
  forest in moister sites. Above that, montane
  evergreen forest.
• Monsoon season from May to October, gt1000mm
• Competition for water between farmers and other
  users (urban, industrial, services)

CIA, 2002
2

• Ethnic Thais as well as hill tribes clear forest
  for cultivation in the uplands
• Upland farming widespread and diverse
• Hillside orchards (permanent removal of forest
  cover)
• Established swiddening (with long term fallow and
  forest harboring high biodiversity)
• Pioneer swidenning (modifying the land cover in
  the long term)

CIA, 1974
3
Hill tribes in Thailand

• A term used in Thailand for all of the various
  tribal peoples who migrated from China and Tibet
  over the past few centuries.
• They now inhabit the remote border areas between
  Northern Thailand, Laos and Burma (Myanmar).
• These areas are known for their thick forests
  and mountainous terrain.
• The six major hill tribes within Thailand are the
  Akha, Lahu, Karen, Hmong, Mien and Lisu, each
  with a distinct language and culture.

4
Karen

• Population approx 300,000
• Origin Myanmar
• The largest of the minority groups
• Unmarried women wear distinctive long white
  v-neck tunics.
• The Karen occupy lowland areas, engaging in
  agriculture, including rice cultivation.
• They are also skilled weavers and the most
  environmentally conscious of the hill tribes -
  practicing crop rotation, thus preserving the
  forest.

5
Lahu

• Population approx 73,000
• Origin Yunnan, Myanmar
• Also known as Musor
• Concentrated near the Burmese border
• A reputation as excellent hunters, and survive
  off vegetable cultivation, with some
  supplementing with opium production.

6
Hmong

• Population approx 124,000
• Origin Yunnan
• The second-largest hill tribe group
• Sometimes referred to as Meo.
• They are largely animistic and best known for
  their intricate embroidery.
• Known to be fiercely independent and with nomadic
  tendencies, they sided with communist rebels in
  Thailand in the 1970s
• Settled in the province of Chiang Mai
• Their succession is patrilineal and polygamy is
  widely practiced.

7
Lisu

• Population approx 28,000
• Origin Tibet / Yunnan
• Occupying villages above 1,000m
• Keep livestock and cultivate corn and vegetables.
  
• Unlike other hill tribes, they don't usually live
  in stilted houses.
• Also recognized as some of the most physically
  attractive of the hill tribes and marriage
  outside of their tribe is not uncommon.

8
Akha

• Population approx 50,000
• Origin Tibet / Myanmar
• The Akha are among the most down-trodden and
  often most impoverished of the hill tribes,
  resisting assimilation into mainstream Thai
  culture.
• The most fascinating and colourful of the hill
  tribes
• Can easily be visited, particularly in Chiang Rai
  province.
• Came to Thailand in the early 20th century,
  mainly due to their persecution in Burma.
• Opium is still used among this tribe.

9
Mien

• Population approx 40,000
• Origin Central China
• Also known as the Yao
• They are distant linguistic relatives of the
  Hmong and originated from China.
• Being the smallest group, the Mien live in
  isolated villages, mostly in and around Chiang
  Rai and Nan.

10
Livelihood

• Until recently, the hill tribes were subsistence
  farmers, who used slash and burn agricultural
  techniques to farm their heavily forested
  communities.
• Tighter conservation of Thailand's virtually
  depleted forests, however, has forced hill tribe
  people to abandon their traditional agricultural
  methods.
• Traditionally, hill tribes were also a migratory
  people, leaving land as it became depleted of
  natural resources.

11
Political status

• They were pretty much left alone until the 1950s,
  when the increase in their numbers, extreme
  poverty, statelessness and threat of insurgency
  forced the Thai government to establish the
  National Committee for the Hill Tribes.