Thailand’s Kaeng Krachan forest listed as world natural heritage site

[webfact]

(Photo) We Love Kaeng Krachan Facebook page

 

UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee (WHC) agreed to list Thailand’s Kaeng Krachan forest complex as a world natural heritage site during its 44th session, held online between July 16th and 31st in China’s Fuzhou city.

 

The successful listing of the forest represents the culmination of ten years of effort by various Thai governments to push for its listing. It is Thailand’s third natural heritage site to be endorsed by the WHC.

 

Kaeng Krachan forest complex is Thailand’s largest national park, covering 464,000 hectares spanning Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Ratchaburi provinces. The forest is rich in over 490 wildlife species, several of them rare, such as tigers, tapirs and fresh-water crocodiles.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailands-kaeng-krachan-forest-listed-as-world-natural-heritage-site/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-07-27

 

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[Burma Bill]

Now this is interesting news, in my opinion, compared to all the BS about "sandboxes" and Covid-19!!

[Pattaya Spotter]

Too bad nobody can visit it.

[Tropicalevo]

16 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

Now this is interesting news

Not interesting for the poor Bang Kloi Karen minority group that have been kicked off their land twice already.

The villagers have been harassed, beaten up and even jailed for living on the land that they have lived on for more than 100 years. (Long before the Thai government decided to squeeze money out of it by making it a 'reserve'.)

More oppression of the poor coming to a forest near you.

[Bluespunk]

Disgraceful decision given the treatment of the Karen and their eviction from their traditional lands. 
 

https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/24/thailand-unesco-world-heritage-status-kaeng-krachan-national-park-claims-of-indigenous-abuses

 

Build near a dockside and you lose your status, abuse people’s human rights- no problem. 
 

https://amp.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/jul/21/unesco-strips-liverpool-waterfront-world-heritage-status

 

Shameful. 

Edited July 27, 2021 by Bluespunk

[KhaoNiaw]

52 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

Disgraceful decision given the treatment of the Karen and their eviction from their traditional lands. 
 

https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/24/thailand-unesco-world-heritage-status-kaeng-krachan-national-park-claims-of-indigenous-abuses

It would be interesting to know exactly what the Thai government have promised and how/if UNESCO will hold them to those promises. Bearing in mind the previous rejections, there must have been some movement on the part of the government. From what I've read, the Karen themselves are not opposed to World Heritage status as long as their rights are safeguarded. Hopefully, UNESCO will be watching carefully.

[Bluespunk]

8 minutes ago, KhaoNiaw said:

It would be interesting to know exactly what the Thai government have promised and how/if UNESCO will hold them to those promises. Bearing in mind the previous rejections, there must have been some movement on the part of the government. From what I've read, the Karen themselves are not opposed to World Heritage status as long as their rights are safeguarded. Hopefully, UNESCO will be watching carefully.

It was UN human rights advisers who recommend against awarding heritage status.

 

I doubt UNESCO (and in particular China and Russia who backed this bid) gives a flying **** about the Karen. 

 

I hope I’m wrong and you are right, but my inner pessimist is not holding it’s breath. 

Edited July 27, 2021 by Bluespunk
Rewording

[KhaoNiaw]

52 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

It was UN human rights advisers who recommend against awarding heritage status.

 

I doubt UNESCO (and in particular China and Russia who backed this bid) gives a flying **** about the Karen. 

 

I hope I’m wrong and you are right, but my inner pessimist is not holding it’s breath. 

No, I'm with you on that. Not optimistic at all. I was just wondering what assurances were given. The Thai government has presumably said they'll be engaging or taking certain actions but I would expect it to simply be for show, without any substance.