More than 250 forest checkpoints to be closed down

 

 

The Royal Forest Department (RFD) will propose the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to shut down all but 25 forest checkpoints throughout the country because most of them are redundant and have never intercepted a single case timber smuggling in the last couple of years.

 

RFD deputy director-general Athapol Charoenshunsa said Friday (Jan 12) that he had written to Minister Surasak Karnjanarat, proposing that 259 out of a total of 284 forest checkpoints should be closed down, leaving only one in Bangkok and 24 others in provinces.

 

Besides the checkpoint in Bangkok, the rest 24 are mostly located in border provinces within economic zones which include Chiang Rai, Nan, Tak and Phrae in the North, Narathiwat and Ranong in the South and Nong Khai in the Northeast.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/250-forest-checkpoints-closed/

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2018-01-13

Who would have thought that illegal loggers do no normally choose a route that will lead them right past one of these checkpoints with their loot...

 

Quite right, close down these permanent checkpoints as they are utterly useless. Instead, set up checkpoints at random (particularly along more remote and quiet countryside roads) and constantly shift them around.

 

That way, gentlemen, you will catch your elusive timber smugglers, of which there are plenty; but of course only provided that no-one in your amidst holds open their greedy palm in exchange for information where these checkpoints are going to go up.     

Perhaps the man power is better spent on patrolling the forest.  Indian rangers use dogs to find timber thieves and poachers. 

1 hour ago, yellowboat said:

Perhaps the man power is better spent on patrolling the forest.  Indian rangers use dogs to find timber thieves and poachers. 

Yes one would say that is a much better way of working, however if you look at the Thai police they also only work with checkpoints because it cuts down on their workload. I wonder if it was intentional those checkpoints.. no work to be done... like a holiday just playing with your phone. 

Seems to me that this is an operation that could seriously benefit from an investment in some long range camera drones. And that would seem to align well with the interests of RTP who would enjoy sitting in the vehicle working with something that look very much like a video game.