Vegetation of Southeast Asia Studies of Forest Types 1963-1965

Summary
This Report treats with the vegetation and other natural features
of Cambodia, I&cs, North and South Vietnam, and particularly
those of Thailand. The vegetation of Thailand, in general, is representative
of the countries drained by the Mekong -river and its
tributaries.
Part I contains a discussion of the systems, propose1 by
various ecologists or phytogeographers, to classify tropical vegetation.
The principal forest types of Thailand, and applicable to
Southeast Asia in general, are described.
The entire region lies between the Equator and the Tropic of
Cancer. Although politically independent, and divided economically,
the countries of Southeast Asia, under consideration, exhibit considerable
analogies from the standpoint of physiography, climate,
soils and especially the vegetation.
The five countries combined have a total area of approximately
505,000 square miles, almost equivalent to twice the size of Texas,
pr 1U6 times the size of Puerto Rico. With an estimated total
population of 56,500,000, "& ne average density is about-112 inhabitants
per square mile.
From the earliest times the Indo-China Peninsula, so called
because of its position between India and China, has been peculiarly
subject to foreign intrusion. Successive waves of Mongols have
broken over it from the north; Dravidians from India colonized it;
Buddhist missions from Ceylon have penetrated it; and it has been invaded
by buccaneers from the islands to the south. Race fought
against race, and tribe against tribe. Dominant powers rose and declined.
Civilizations developed, flourished and faded. Out of many
races and diverse elements - Thais, Lao, Khmer, Mon, Annamese,
Malayans, Chinese - a series of nations evolved. They are fundamentally
alike, but differ in many essentials. They have striven
during centuries for mastery over each other, as well as over the
many minor tribes and clans who lead a precarious, sometimes nomadic,
existence in their midst.
Unlike its neighboring countries, Thailand, throughout modern
history, has been an independent nation, a kingd.om with no colonial
ties. Tor--this reason the Thais proudly refer to their country as
•the 'land of free men 1 .