Shocking Discovery

[Gatorade]

Samui Express has reported in its latest issue that, quote

"concerned authorities on Samui have blamed the rampant cutting down of trees as partly to blame for the recent massive floods" unquote. They seem to have found all this out some 15/20 years too late!

This startling "discovery" by the Samui authorties has got to be some of the most depressing island news I have read in a long time, it makes me realise that there is no regulatory body capable/or wishing to control such wanton destruction by the developers.

I wonder if they now plan to take any action, particularly as the damage was estimated at around 100 Million baht.

Perhaps I am having a bad day but I see little hope for the future of the ecology of Samui and the surrounding islands unless some form of control is introduced.

[jocwaoh]

Samui Express has reported in its latest issue that, quote

"concerned authorities on Samui have blamed the rampant cutting down of trees as partly to blame for the recent massive floods" unquote. They seem to have found all this out some 15/20 years too late!

This startling "discovery" by the Samui authorties has got to be some of the most depressing island news I have read in a long time, it makes me realise that there is no regulatory body capable/or wishing to control such wanton destruction by the developers.

I wonder if they now plan to take any action, particularly as the damage was estimated at around 100 Million baht.

Perhaps I am having a bad day but I see little hope for the future of the ecology of Samui and the surrounding islands unless some form of control is introduced.

You're missing the point of Thai logic here...the horrible infrastructure here is not the fault of Thais....ITS THE FARANG'S FAULT!

[ClaudeFeller]

Last flooding had nothing to do with tree cuttings. If rainfall is up to 250 mm a day like end of october, the rain water will run off like we saw it even Samui mountains would be still covered with trees. The problem is that the water channels are blocked by roads or a stucked with sand and mud. And who is responsible for the water channels? Tessaban.

For smaller rainfalls: Yes, much more rainwater will reach the lower parts of Samui a lot faster due to the tree cuttings.

The most funniest nonsense is to pretend that "developpers" are responsible for the tree cuttings! I dont like the projects in the mountain, but there are authorities who give them the permission to built. These concerned authorities should better blame themselves for what they are discovering.

Illegal lodging? This business is filling enough pockets and will not be stopped.

[Who, me ?]

Samui Express has reported in its latest issue that, quote

"concerned authorities on Samui have blamed the rampant cutting down of trees as partly to blame for the recent massive floods" unquote. They seem to have found all this out some 15/20 years too late!

This startling "discovery" by the Samui authorties has got to be some of the most depressing island news I have read in a long time, it makes me realise that there is no regulatory body capable/or wishing to control such wanton destruction by the developers.

I wonder if they now plan to take any action, particularly as the damage was estimated at around 100 Million baht.

Perhaps I am having a bad day but I see little hope for the future of the ecology of Samui and the surrounding islands unless some form of control is introduced.

You're missing the point of Thai logic here...the horrible infrastructure here is not the fault of Thais....ITS THE FARANG'S FAULT!

mmmm.....Another specialist in Thai Logic !

[jocwaoh]

Samui Express has reported in its latest issue that, quote

"concerned authorities on Samui have blamed the rampant cutting down of trees as partly to blame for the recent massive floods" unquote. They seem to have found all this out some 15/20 years too late!

This startling "discovery" by the Samui authorties has got to be some of the most depressing island news I have read in a long time, it makes me realise that there is no regulatory body capable/or wishing to control such wanton destruction by the developers.

I wonder if they now plan to take any action, particularly as the damage was estimated at around 100 Million baht.

Perhaps I am having a bad day but I see little hope for the future of the ecology of Samui and the surrounding islands unless some form of control is introduced.

You're missing the point of Thai logic here...the horrible infrastructure here is not the fault of Thais....ITS THE FARANG'S FAULT!

mmmm.....Another specialist in Thai Logic !

yep...and ClaudeFeller shows the inherent contradiction therein = its the farang's fault for all silly money they gave us! Ph.d. (Thai Logic) JOCWAOH

[lazeeboy]

Samui Express has reported in its latest issue that, quote

"concerned authorities on Samui have blamed the rampant cutting down of trees as partly to blame for the recent massive floods" unquote. They seem to have found all this out some 15/20 years too late!

This startling "discovery" by the Samui authorties has got to be some of the most depressing island news I have read in a long time, it makes me realise that there is no regulatory body capable/or wishing to control such wanton destruction by the developers.

I wonder if they now plan to take any action, particularly as the damage was estimated at around 100 Million baht.

Perhaps I am having a bad day but I see little hope for the future of the ecology of Samui and the surrounding islands unless some form of control is introduced.

You're missing the point of Thai logic here...the horrible infrastructure here is not the fault of Thais....ITS THE FARANG'S FAULT!

to blame the farang is a stupid thing to say ,all land which is sold in samui is sold originally by the thai's ,they have already cleared the land of all tree's and vegetation as it makes there land appear bigger and more inviting ,90%of all tree's cut are replaced by the new owners allbiet smaller ones,the property built on the ringroad is elevated by 1/2 a metre above the road so there is no where for the water to run off as there is no drainage ,this 99% of the time is done by thai's .........

[Who, me ?]

Samui Express has reported in its latest issue that, quote

"concerned authorities on Samui have blamed the rampant cutting down of trees as partly to blame for the recent massive floods" unquote. They seem to have found all this out some 15/20 years too late!

This startling "discovery" by the Samui authorties has got to be some of the most depressing island news I have read in a long time, it makes me realise that there is no regulatory body capable/or wishing to control such wanton destruction by the developers.

I wonder if they now plan to take any action, particularly as the damage was estimated at around 100 Million baht.

Perhaps I am having a bad day but I see little hope for the future of the ecology of Samui and the surrounding islands unless some form of control is introduced.

You're missing the point of Thai logic here...the horrible infrastructure here is not the fault of Thais....ITS THE FARANG'S FAULT!

mmmm.....Another specialist in Thai Logic !

yep...and ClaudeFeller shows the inherent contradiction therein = its the farang's fault for all silly money they gave us! Ph.d. (Thai Logic) JOCWAOH

mmmmmm x 2....specialist, and.....documented !

[cm-happy]

I would guess from this thread that

Developers do not have to file an "Environmental Impact statement or study" with the Thai authorities before the project can be approved.l

[rgs2001uk]

I would guess from this thread that

Developers do not have to file an "Environmental Impact statement or study" with the Thai authorities before the project can be approved.l

you aint in kansas now dorothy.

[jocwaoh]

Samui Express has reported in its latest issue that, quote

"concerned authorities on Samui have blamed the rampant cutting down of trees as partly to blame for the recent massive floods" unquote. They seem to have found all this out some 15/20 years too late!

This startling "discovery" by the Samui authorties has got to be some of the most depressing island news I have read in a long time, it makes me realise that there is no regulatory body capable/or wishing to control such wanton destruction by the developers.

I wonder if they now plan to take any action, particularly as the damage was estimated at around 100 Million baht.

Perhaps I am having a bad day but I see little hope for the future of the ecology of Samui and the surrounding islands unless some form of control is introduced.

You're missing the point of Thai logic here...the horrible infrastructure here is not the fault of Thais....ITS THE FARANG'S FAULT!

to blame the farang is a stupid thing to say ,all land which is sold in samui is sold originally by the thai's ,they have already cleared the land of all tree's and vegetation as it makes there land appear bigger and more inviting ,90%of all tree's cut are replaced by the new owners allbiet smaller ones,the property built on the ringroad is elevated by 1/2 a metre above the road so there is no where for the water to run off as there is no drainage ,this 99% of the time is done by thai's .........

thank you for making my point

[cm-happy]

would guess from this thread that

Developers do not have to file an "Environmental Impact statement or study" with the Thai authorities before the project can be approved.l

you aint in kansas now dorothy.

Nope not in Kansas anymore, just Thailand where there are lots of Wizzards of OZ"

[simon43]

Developers do not have to file an "Environmental Impact statement or study" with the Thai authorities before the project can be approved.

[\quote]

In Phuket you certainhly have to! and if you start any construction works before BKK rules yes or no on your survey, then you have to knock everything down and start again! We have a friend who started building before his survey was approved. The BKK authorites halted their decision on his survey until he demolished all his new buildings!!

Simon

[PaulAllen]

Most of Samui is covered already in coconut trees that are very spread apart already and removing them doesn't really cause the water to change its course. Most of the jungle part of Samui was cut out a long time ago to make room for the coconut trees. If you go of shore on a boat and then look back at Samui it doesn't appear that a lot of trees have been removed.

I think it is, as Claude Feller so eloquently put, the channels that the rain water normally follow are stucked or diverted.

[Dingojoe]

Most of Samui is covered already in coconut trees that are very spread apart already and removing them doesn't really cause the water to change its course. Most of the jungle part of Samui was cut out a long time ago to make room for the coconut trees. If you go of shore on a boat and then look back at Samui it doesn't appear that a lot of trees have been removed.

I think it is, as Claude Feller so eloquently put, the channels that the rain water normally follow are stucked or diverted.

Well funny you should say that, every time i come back to Samui and take out the boat, (once every 2 months), i cruise around the island and i see new developments and roads cutting through the mountains, its a shame, and its obvious that when it rains the lush undergrowth is not there to hold and suck up the water, it runs down the hill and brings the sand and dirt with it.

When it rains and your up there, its amazing how much water those plants hold on their leaves and soak in the mulsh rather than run down the hill at a 100 miles/hour taking everything with it.

Which brings to mind and old EAGLES SONG " The Last Resort" if any of you have their last album "hel_l Freezes Over" listen to that song, actualy its a great track.

-They laid the mountains low - while the town got high-

if you dont have that album go out and buy it, its very good, its on DVD live as well.

[BL4u]

Samui Community 15 February 2007:

Samui Forest Raid

On January 30, Mr. Sompong Phetongklang, the Director of Forest Preservation and the Surattanni Preventative Operation Center , inco-operationwith Mr. Deach Kangsanan, the Chief of Samui District Office, were involved in a sting operation to bring down a network of illegal loggers and wood smugglers.

The investigating team suspects that both government officials and large scale investors are involved in illegal logging on Samui and the operation was aimed at a gang allegedly chopping down trees in a protected area of over 45 rai.

During the investigation leading to the raid, it was found that a group of government officials had hired workers to occupy 20 rai of prime hilltop woodland and clear it of commercial wood stocks. It is alleged that this action was taken prior to the sale of the land to foreign investors at a rate of 3 million baht per rai.

From marks left on the trees, investigators believe the overall profit on the deal would have exceeded 140 million baht and resulted in a cost to the local government of 3.5 million baht. However a complaint was filed that resulted in an investigation based on possible violations to the forestry laws.

During the initial raid, Mr. Boonlue Klabmuang, 38, was caught cutting trees illegally. However, the suspect managed to escape from the vehicle used to transport him to Nathon and therefore still at large.

A similar article was published in the Samui Express.

[ClaudeFeller]

Some silly rumors are pretending that the government officials were police officers...

To overview this disaster: Go look at the army mountain, mountain paek restaurant - you will see many mean farangs cutting the beautiful poor thai trees...

[BigC]

Samui Express has reported in its latest issue that, quote

"concerned authorities on Samui have blamed the rampant cutting down of trees as partly to blame for the recent massive floods" unquote. They seem to have found all this out some 15/20 years too late!

This startling "discovery" by the Samui authorties has got to be some of the most depressing island news I have read in a long time, it makes me realise that there is no regulatory body capable/or wishing to control such wanton destruction by the developers.

I wonder if they now plan to take any action, particularly as the damage was estimated at around 100 Million baht.

Perhaps I am having a bad day but I see little hope for the future of the ecology of Samui and the surrounding islands unless some form of control is introduced.

problem is they are cocanut treas which cause damage when the cocanuts fall down. dunno if it is possible but can they be replaced with palme trea. change the nick name from cocanut island to palme island. i don;t know how possible it is but just an idea

[Gatorade]

Most of Samui is covered already in coconut trees that are very spread apart already and removing them doesn't really cause the water to change its course. Most of the jungle part of Samui was cut out a long time ago to make room for the coconut trees. If you go of shores on a boat and then look back at Samui it doesn't appear that a lot of trees have been removed.

I think it is, as Claude Feller so eloquently put, the channels that the rain water normally follow are stucked or diverted.

The point is that removal of trees without taking any replacement measures causes land erosion and it seems that the authorities are just waking up to this fact.

You can see for yourself that where developments are taking place eg.

the road from Choeng Moen to Chaweng, the road is covered in earth that has been washed down the hill. It didn't happen before the building work took place so what else could be the cause?

From the shore it doesn't look as though there is too much damage but I have flown over and around this island many times and the extent of the destruction in the mountains is considerable.

[jocwaoh]

Most of Samui is covered already in coconut trees that are very spread apart already and removing them doesn't really cause the water to change its course. Most of the jungle part of Samui was cut out a long time ago to make room for the coconut trees. If you go of shores on a boat and then look back at Samui it doesn't appear that a lot of trees have been removed.

I think it is, as Claude Feller so eloquently put, the channels that the rain water normally follow are stucked or diverted.

The point is that removal of trees without taking any replacement measures causes land erosion and it seems that the authorities are just waking up to this fact.

You can see for yourself that where developments are taking place eg.

the road from Choeng Moen to Chaweng, the road is covered in earth that has been washed down the hill. It didn't happen before the building work took place so what else could be the cause?

From the shore it doesn't look as though there is too much damage but I have flown over and around this island many times and the extent of the destruction in the mountains is considerable.

"authorities"???

[ClaudeFeller]

Samui Express has reported in its latest issue that, quote

"concerned authorities on Samui have blamed the rampant cutting down of trees as partly to blame for the recent massive floods" unquote. They seem to have found all this out some 15/20 years too late!

This startling "discovery" by the Samui authorties has got to be some of the most depressing island news I have read in a long time, it makes me realise that there is no regulatory body capable/or wishing to control such wanton destruction by the developers.

I wonder if they now plan to take any action, particularly as the damage was estimated at around 100 Million baht.

Perhaps I am having a bad day but I see little hope for the future of the ecology of Samui and the surrounding islands unless some form of control is introduced.

problem is they are cocanut treas which cause damage when the cocanuts fall down. dunno if it is possible but can they be replaced with palme trea. change the nick name from cocanut island to palme island. i don;t know how possible it is but just an idea

BigC, can you retain this post until 1/1/2008 - you will surely be awarded "poster of the year" for the second time in a row.... what kind of drugs are you taking?? Willing to share??