Thai Government Reclaims Tab Lan National Park Land, Strengthens Law Enforcement

The Thai government is moving forward with reclaiming illegally occupied land in Tab Lan National Park and strengthening law enforcement. This initiative aims to protect forest areas and ensure the sustainable use of natural resources. According to Ms. Lalida Pherdwuttiwat, Deputy Government Spokesperson, the administration led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is prioritizing the conservation and balanced, valuable utilization of natural resources. The government is expediting land allocation for livelihoods and job creation in communities to reduce forest encroachment. Concurrently, strict legal enforcement will be applied to offenders, and natural resources will be restored to their former abundance sustainably. Ms. Lalida stated that Mr. Suchart Chomklin, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, is closely monitoring the operations of the Tab Lan National Park task force. Following the official notification for the owners of "Im Phu Hill Resort" to demolish structures within 15 days, as legal proceedings have concluded, the owners have met with the superintendent of Tab Lan National Park to voluntarily submit a request for the demolition of all their buildings. They have commenced the demolition process immediately, prior to the deadline, under the close supervision and monitoring of park officials to expedite the restoration of the area to its natural forest state. The government reaffirms its clear operating principle: to ensure fair protection of the rights of citizens who are rightful landholders, by expediting the transparent verification of land rights for cultivation. Simultaneously, legal action will be taken equally against capitalists and forest encroachers, with no exceptions. Once legal proceedings are finalized, structures must be demolished, and the land must be returned to the state as per the law. Ms. Lalida further added that regarding the "Rai Rak Fah" area within Erawan National Park in Kanchanaburi Province, where legal enforcement has successfully reclaimed the land, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment has ordered the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation to accelerate landscape improvement and enhance safety standards. This area is to be developed into the "Erawan Nakhon Viewpoint" strictly adhering to the department's regulations. The development will consider the balance between tourism and conservation, avoiding permanent structures that impact nature, utilizing environmentally friendly materials, and designating appropriate usage areas. This will ensure the restored forest can fully function as a source of water and a habitat for wildlife. Opening the area for tourism will be conducted under strict safety measures, including the establishment of tourist service points, increasing the number of patrol officers, integrating cooperation with local police, designating safe nature trails and photo spots, and installing warning signs and tourist care systems. This will allow the public to access natural tourist attractions safely and sustainably. "The government places importance on the balanced management of natural resources, between conservation, the protection of citizens' rights, and the serious enforcement of laws against encroachers, alongside the restoration of forest areas and the development of reclaimed areas for the benefit of the people under the principle of conservation, to maintain the abundance of natural resources and pass on a complete forest to future generations," Ms. Lalida concluded.