Rights Beautiful Collection of Professor Saneh Chamarik that, in spite of centuries-old deforestation and depletion of species and bio-diversity, there still remains a great potential for the creative future of mankind.2 Indeed, it is a matter of human own choice. This is exactly the question of management and the conflicts involved we are concerned with here at this forum. It is then not just a matter of “dispute resolution” per se, but fundamentally part of the political process towards more intelligent future. But before coming to that point, let us take a closer look at the delicate and sensitive nature, as well as cultural dimension, of bio-diversity itself. In the first place, the tropical forests and bio-diversity are not just patches or pieces of genetic resources that could be taken out at will. Within each region, they constitute one continuous space and inter-related whole. That is the reason why it is to be understood and acted upon as one unifying resource base transcending the international boundaries and internal divisions mong localities and communities. Its integrity and sustainability must needs be a prerequisite, and conservation be upheld as a matter of principle in dealing with bio-diversity. Secondly, associated with this holistic worldview is also the inter-relatedness between various parts of the tropics: from the mountaintops down through lowlands to maritime areas. All so delicately exist in ecological equilibrium. Fragmentation of tropical forest space, for whatever reasons, poses a threat to their natural habitats and rapid destruction. And once they get lost, they are gone forever and further endangering to all the rest. For all the great variety of human mismanagement, it is estimated that 20-50% of the world’s species 2 Norman Myers, “Tropical Forests and Life on Earth”, in Suzanne Head and Robert Heinzman, Lessons of the Rainforest, San Francisco, Sierra Books Club, 1990, pp. 16-17. OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF THAILAND 53