Saving Forests So There Can Be Forest Monks Venerable Ajahn Pasanno -

Venerable Ajahn Pasanno -
Saving Forests So There Can Be Forest Monks

Ajahn Pasanno is the Abbot of Wat Pah Nanachat, the monastery for Western monks set up by Ajahn Chah in Thailand. He recently spent a year on retreat in the forest at Chithurst Monastery. It was there that he was interviewed by Nick Scott.


Nick: Ajahn, you have been a forest monk in Thailand for over twenty years now. In that time what have you seen happening to the forests?

Ajahn Pasanno: Basically, I've told Thai people that there just isn't going to be any more forest in Thailand if they don't act soon, the devastation is so complete. About fifty years ago around 70% of the country used to be covered in forest and now the government estimate it to be 20%; in reality it's more like 5% or 8%.
The big logging companies are partially responsible, but that's actually a small part of it. Logging is banned nowadays. And even when they used to come in, they only wanted the big trees and then they were out. What happened was that they opened up areas of forest, and after they left, people came in. Round where we are they cut the smaller timber for furniture - you can get that out without being seen - and a lot goes as charcoal. The government allows people to sell two sacks of charcoal, so everyone has two sacks at the front of their house for sale.

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