Forest
- Thailand News
UNESCO Thai heritage site threatened by reservoir projects: Probe
Environmentalists are urging a House committee to investigate two reservoir construction projects that they fear may threaten the Dong Phayayen–Khao Yai Forest Complex in Nakhon Ratchasima, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Klong Madue reservoir project in Nakhon Nayok and another near the forest complex have raised concerns among conservationists. Suthee Rattanamongkol, leading the Khao Yai Forest Conservation Network,…
- Thailand News
Cattle herder murder: Body found in Nakhon Phanom forest
A man who had gone to tend to his cattle was found dead in a forest in Nakhon Phanom province with multiple stab wounds. Police were alerted to the scene, uncovering a brutal murder that left the family devastated. The incident came to light around 8.30pm yesterday, November 1, when police were informed about a body found in the forest…
- Thailand News
Mystery surrounds woman’s body found in Hua Na forest
A shocking discovery was made when a young man, stopping by the roadside, found the body of a woman in a forest, 12 days after she had mysteriously disappeared. Her parents are questioning the circumstances of her death and have called for a thorough investigation. Police received a report from the 191 Radio Centre about a deceased woman found in…
- Thailand News
Thai forest department eases land use rules for state agencies
The Royal Forest Department (RFD) plans to streamline its regulations to simplify land use for state agencies, as announced by RFD Director-General, Surachai Achalaboon. This initiative aligns with the new policy set by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Chalermchai Sri-on. Surachai highlighted that the department will amend existing laws to be more flexible, facilitating local authorities in obtaining forest use…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s park department concerns over forest conservation bills
Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) raised serious concerns over two proposed bills aimed at protecting indigenous people’s land rights. The department argues these bills could significantly undermine forest conservation efforts across the country. DNP Chief Attapol Charoenshunsa stated that, if passed, the bills put forward by the civil rights group P-Move and the Ministry of…
- Pattaya News
Foreign tourists found safe after night search in Doi Nang Mo forest
San Kamphaeng police, forest officers, and other relevant agencies initiated a search at 8.30pm yesterday, July 28, for two missing foreign tourists who had become lost in the Doi Nang Mo forest area near the Mae Pha Nhaen Reservoir in Chiang Mai. The search was prompted by the coordinates sent by the tourists before their signal was lost. The dense…
- Thailand News
Lost lottery tickets found in Thai forest spark social media frenzy (video)
Two lottery tickets were found in the forest with the name and phone number of their owner written on the back, leading to a social media frenzy. The discovery was made by a TikTok user who was foraging for mushrooms with a friend. TikTok user @udomporn41 posted a video showing the lottery tickets, numbered 498471, for the August 1 draw.…
- Thailand News
Thai cops make waves with underwater raid on illegal timber stash
Police in Kanchanaburi, West Thailand, conducted a significant raid on an illegal timber storage site, seizing a large quantity of protected wood both on land and underwater. Individuals have until July 15 to present ownership documents or face legal action. Director of Forest Fire Prevention, Suppression, and Control Narupon Thipmonda ordered the Director of the Forest Protection and Suppression Unit,…
- Thailand News
Thailand govt to review Thap Lan National Park boundary
Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Patcharawat Wongsuwan addressed public concerns over the proposed boundary adjustments to Thap Lan National Park in Prachin Buri, Nakhon Ratchasima. Public opinion will be considered before final decisions are made by this Friday, July 12. The issue currently undergoing public consultation has drawn mixed reactions, with some citizens voicing…
- Thailand News
Thap Lan park risks losing 265,286 rai to land reform project
Thap Lan National Park faces the potential loss of 265,286 rai of forest land due to an agricultural land reform project, according to Chaiwat Limlikhitaksorn, National Park Office Director. Concerned about this significant reduction, he has called on the public to oppose the government’s move through an online poll organised by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation…
- Thailand News
L’Oréal commits to 100% recycled packaging by 2025
L’Oréal Group, with its vision L’Oréal for the future, has committed to sustainable business practices aiming for significant positive impacts on society and the environment by 2030. L’Oréal’s ongoing strategies include using recycled plastic packaging, renewable energy systems, and water conservation efforts. Additionally, the company has not tested products on animals since 1989, pioneering alternative testing methods to truly create…
- Thailand News
PM pledges commitment to forest conservation on 4-province tour
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin yesterday visited Ratchaburi where he pledged his commitment to forest conservation in Thailand during his four-province tour. The 62 year old Thai prime minister urged relevant agencies to meticulously review public requests for the utilisation of forested areas. PM Srettha emphasised the significance of land rights in improving the living conditions of the populace. However, he…
- Guides
Deforestation in Thailand: challenges and solutions for forest conservation
Thailand is currently facing a significant environmental challenge that has garnered widespread concern, particularly among conservationists: deforestation. This issue is more severe in Thailand than in many other Southeast Asian countries, primarily due to the rapid clearance of forests to accommodate agricultural expansion necessitated by population growth and the country’s focus on exporting agricultural products. Furthermore, the logging industry and…
- Bangkok News
Bangkok’s eastern flank gets a wetland forest for recreation
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is transforming an 86-rai plot of land situated on Bangkok’s eastern flank into a wetland forest, a green space designed to provide urban dwellers with fresh air and recreational facilities. This plot, found in the Bung Kum district, was previously recognised as Klong Lam Bung Kum. Its initial purpose was to act as a floodwater-retention…
- Health
Forest bathing in Thailand
Nestled within Southeast Asia, Thailand emerges as a tranquil sanctuary for those seeking to immerse themselves in the essence of nature through forest bathing. This practice, which hails from Japan, has seamlessly woven itself into the fabric of Thailand’s verdant landscapes. The northern region of Thailand, characterised by its vast tropical rainforests and extended dry periods, stands out as an…
- Thailand News
Global forests in crisis: Shocking decline revealed
In a staggering revelation, the world’s forests have undergone a drastic reduction of nearly 20 million square kilometres over the past 30 years, plunging from 42.03 million square kilometres in 1992 to 40.44 million square kilometres in 2021, as per the latest data from the World Bank. Attributing this alarming loss to the relentless encroachment of agriculture and industrialisation, the…
- Thailand News
New agricultural land reform policy to implement buffer zones
Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Thamanat Prompow is set to propose a new agricultural land reform policy tomorrow. The policy seeks to establish a buffer zone between forest reserves and agricultural land, with the explicit specification that this zone will not be allocated to individual farmers. This comes in the wake of an ongoing dispute between the Agricultural Land Reform Office…
- Thailand News
Royal Forest Department investigates land appropriation
The Royal Forest Department launched a probe into allegations of land encroachment within the Pang Asok woodlot. The claim comes from Chaiwat Limlikhitaksorn, head of the Office of National Parks, who stumbled upon a disturbing sight: a backhoe and tractor clearing swathes of land purportedly for personal gain. Chaiwat asserts that approximately 64 hectares stand despoiled, with a suspicious Sor Por…
- Thailand News
ALRO refutes claims of issuing illicit land titles
The Agricultural Land Reform Office (ALRO) of Nakhon Ratchasima refuted claims of issuing Sor Por Kor land titles within the boundaries of Khao Yai National Park. The office is investigating allegations of its officials’ involvement in the illicit act. In the recent past, about 2,933 rai of land positioned in tambon Moosi of Pak Chong district, within the perimeters of…
- Phuket News
Alleged encroachment in Bang Khanun protected forest sparks controversy
The Gulf of Thailand Coastal Area Conservation Network – Andaman (branch) raised concerns over alleged encroachment in the Bang Khanun protected forest reserve, calling for an investigation. Led by the chairman, Chamroon Kerddam, the group complained to the Phuket branch of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), implicating government officials in facilitating unlawful activities in the protected area. The complaint, submitted…
- Phuket News
Forest faux pas: Illegal loggers caught in the act as DSI turns the spotlight on hidden tree mischief in Thailand
An unsanctioned logging operation, hidden deep within Thailand’s Bang Khanun protected forest, was inadvertently exposed during a routine inspection by officers from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI). Conducted in conjunction with the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) and forest protection officials, the group stumbled upon the illegal exploitation yesterday. Vice Admiral Suchart Thammapitakwet, the commander of the RTN’s Third Area…
- Thailand News
Leech’s eye for adventure: Thai trekker’s blood-curdling tale
A Thai man shared an eye-opening survival experience when a leech sucked blood from a friend’s eye, along with a warning and recommendation for all trekking enthusiasts. The Thai man, Apichart Prommathat, shared the story on his Facebook page Der Baag (เดอะแบก) at 9am yesterday, November 6. Apichart began his story with a warning to trekkers to be aware of…
- Chiang Mai News
Hermit’s forest meditation takes an eternal detour in remote Thailand
A 58 year old hermit was found dead during meditation in a deep forest in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand. The rescue team had to walk to the scene due to the inaccessibility of vehicles. The body was later transported by motorcycle from the mountain today. Jiraphan Suinwai, head of the Naprat Chiang Mai Rescue, stated that on Sunday, October 1, they…
- Phuket News
Phuket’s forest-working group takes root: Mapping a path for protected land issues
Phuket’s inaugural meeting of a newly established working group, tasked with resolving issues concerning residents residing in or near the Bang Khanun Protected National Forest, resolved to develop a database to record all land parcels owned or occupied within the forest area. The decision also included creating a map of the occupied areas within the forest. The resolution was made…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s environment ministry orders removal of illegal resorts in Phu Thap Boek
A mandate for the deconstruction of three illegal resorts in the favoured hillside tourist destination, Phu Thap Boek, has been decreed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The said resorts, located in the Phetchabun province, were brought to the notice of the authorities due to tourist complaints about obtrusive constructions blocking views. On Wednesday, the Minister of Environment,…
- Phuket News
Phuket forest reserve dwellers demand removal of RTN fence
In a recent event in Phuket, over 100 residents who have illegally occupied land within the Bang Khanun protected national forest handed over their formal request for the removal of a barbed-wire fence that the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) has installed. The appeal yesterday was addressed to Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew and received by Vice Governor Anupap Rodkwan Yodrambam at…
- Thailand News
Frenchman lost in Thailand forest has been found
UPDATE The missing Frenchman lost in the forest around Khao Eto Mountain in Prachin Buri province in central Thailand was found this morning. The search party scoured the forests all night for Sierra Gamache – who NationTV reports as 73 years old and not 70 years old as reported by DailyNews – after he got lost on his way down the…
- Phuket News
Phuket rescuers bring French tourists lost in forest to safety
Phuket rescuers brought two French tourists lost in a forest to safety between last night and this morning. The tourists, a man identified only as Victor, and his girlfriend, had arrived in Phuket earlier yesterday and decided to go for a walk on a local beach. The couple followed a trail up the Nai Thon mountain but found themselves lost and…
- Thailand News
Three foreign tourists rescued from Thai jungle
National park officials rescued three foreign tourists who got lost in the jungle in Koh Pha Ngan, Surat Thani province, southern Thailand, yesterday. All three are reportedly safe. At 5.30pm, the Chief of Than Sadet National Park, Tikamporn Phenchom, received a call that three foreign tourists were lost in the jungle on the Khao Ra mountain and needed help. Chief…
- Thailand News
French expat with Alzheimer’s rescued after getting lost in Chiang Mai forest
More than 200 people teamed up for a rescue effort to find a French expat with Alzheimer’s disease who went missing in Chiang Mai. He was found the next morning in an abandoned temple in a forest. The 70 year old man says he was driving to the French Embassy in Chiang Mai when he forgot the way home. His…
