Abstract
Analysis of deforestation before and after a logging ban was carried out in the forest area of Eastern Thailand by using GIS. The objective of analysis is to investigate the amount and location of deforestation area before and after the logging ban. The Royal Thai Government has banned all logging operations since 1989 which includes this area, for the reason that logging operations cause deforestation. In this study, six sets of forest and non-forest maps were transformed to vector GIS system, and overlaying techniques were applied. The investigation shows that, on the basis of forest area in 1973, the average annual deforestations were 5.6 % during 1973-1982, 1.8 % during 1982-1989 (before the logging ban), and 2.8 % during 1989-1991 (after the logging ban). The locations of deforestation were mainly on flat and low slope lands, not so far from roads. This indicates that the logging ban in 1989 has not decreased the rate of deforestation.
