BANGKOK - Deforestation has worsened a severe drought afflicting Thailand and the key to preventing similar problems in the future lies in doubling forest cover, an agriculture official said.
Deforestation has long been a problem affecting parts of Thailand, with illegal logging continuing despite numerous tree planting campaigns over the years.

"The whole problem is currently Thailand has only 20 percent of forest area (and) to avert the drought we must increase forest area to between 30 to 40 percent of total area," the official told AFP, asking not to be named.
The drought which began last September has now hit 5.28 million acres (2.13 million hectares) of farmland, according to the agriculture ministry.
It has affected 63 of Thailand's 76 total provinces -- including 10 areas declared as disaster zones -- and cost the economy a reported 364 million dollars.
As many as 9.2 million people are now affected, according to the interior ministry.
Pornchai Phonchua, head of the irrigation department's drought operation center, said the drought had decimated non-irrigated rice farming in the northeastern provinces. Thailand is the world's top rice exporter.
"We expect the drought will continue until mid-May but if there is no rain after that the drought situation will worsen," Pornchai said.
Northeast farmers have been banned from planting second crops, and water from the region's rapidly drying dams and reservoirs is being rationed.
Agriculture Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan on Thursday inspected Nakhon Ratchasima, the hardest hit province.
Officials are concentrating on cloud seeding -- a process in which chemicals are sprayed into and above clouds to stimulate rain -- as a key effort to alleviate drought.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who has a patent for a cloud-seeding technique, on Wednesday personally took charge of rain-making efforts and will monitor them from a centre set up at his seaside palace at Hua Hin.
Deputy agriculture minister Newin Chidchob said more than 60 pilots and scientists would be trained for cloud seeding operations which begin Tuesday, using 45 aircraft carrying 37,000 tons of chemicals.