About six million hectares of northeast Thailand are salt affected (34% of the NE region). Rice yields and economic returns from salt-affected soils are about one-third of those from non-affected soils. The Thai Government has recognised the problem of salinity and has introduced a long-term reforestation program, allocating approximately 5 million rai for tree planting in the most recent (199296) development plan.

Usually, however, the best results for the management of land degradation caused by salinity, have been obtained by combining many strategies. Dryland salinity is mainly the result of saline groundwater discharging at the ground surface. Shallow groundwater salinity is caused by deep groundwater dissolving salt from thick salt deposits that come within 60 metres of the surface in some places.