Isolated until the 18th century, they are currently under threat from ecological devastation, disease and violence brought by oil extractors and illegal loggers.
By the mid-1930s the ecological devastation left behind by the timber boom reached its all time low.
A photographer's journey along the pipeline, from end to end, suggests that the starkest fears of ecological devastation have not come to pass.
We are concerned also over the ecological devastation of our environment.
It tells the story of a young forestry engineer and his struggle against ecological devastation caused by bushfires.
Earlier logging concessions granted to Thai companies were cancelled in 1993 due to economic loss from violation of terms and over-logging with ecological devastation.
But his fears reflected the growing ecological devastation caused by a new archenemy of the Arctic.
The land hunger of the poor contributes to ecological devastation of fragile areas.
"This is where the ecological devastation is most severe," he said.
"After all, their allegations of ecological devastation have been amply borne out."