The Isaan are located in the arid tropics of northeast Thailand.
Soil quality is poor and population density is high.
Reforestation programs bulldoze many acres of forest which was formerly public. This land is planted with eucalyptus trees in order to get quick profit, which makes it useless for most other things. This limits the land available, as well as wood. The result is destroyed forests. The Isaan are a hard working, good natured people of Laotian decent.