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, >1000mm • 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.