Province plans census of forest dwellers

PHUKET: The Provincial Forestry Office is to take a census in forest land occupied for decades by squatters, most of them engaged in market gardening. The census is part of a nationwide exercise aimed at finding out just how many people are living in publicly-owned forests, and issuing them with papers that will legitimize their occupation of the land, though without allowing them to own or sell the land. The areas to be surveyed will be Kamala Mountain, Narkkerd Mountain, Maiporg-Maikaew Mountain and Samlieam Mountain. The head of the Phuket Forestry Office, Khun Srisawat Rienmora, told the Gazette the survey will be funded by the government, and that local inhabitants approached by anyone asking them to pay fees should report the matter to the District or Provincial Forestry Office, or the local OrBorTor.