Catholic World News News Feature

Thai Buddhists Ordain Trees To Save Them January 14, 1997

BANGKOK (CWN) - A coalition of villages and farmers in Thailand announced on Tuesday that they plan to save 50 million trees from illegal logging by ordaining them as Buddhist monks.

The Bangkok Post quoted an activist Buddhist monk as saying the aim of the program is to shame illegal loggers into thinking twice before they cut the trees. More than 90 percent of the country's forests have already been logged through legal and illegal means.

The coalition said the trees will be wrapped in the orange robes worn by Buddhist monks to deter the lumbermen, and they plan to ordain 50 million trees in forests covering eight northern Thai provinces. They said the number 50 million was chosen in honor of Thai King Bhumibol, who last year celebrated the 50th anniversary of his accession to the throne.