Plants, Environment, and Tourism: Botanical Knowledge in Thai Society, 1935-1992

Abstract

Botanical Knowledge in the Thai modern era did not only give rise to the transformation in the scientific investigation, but the advent of new botanical knowledge in Thai society, especially Western plant taxonomy and ecology, had also formulated new perceptions about plants and new interactions between men and nature. In parallel with tremendous changes in politics, society, economics, and environments, plants were deeply related with natural conservation, leading to the opening of new tourism areas thereafter. During 1935-1992, the horticultural society and many botanical government agencies were founded and helped advocating government's tourism policies.