Pai Hit By Major Deforestation

[ChiangMaiMail]

Pai hit by major deforestation

Watershed land has been clear cut by poachers intent

on developing the land for agriculture and tourism.

Khajohn Boonpath

Deforestation and trespassing on forest lands covering huge amounts of land were found around Pai in Mae Hong Son recently by the 7th Infantry Regiment that had been surveying the area for an aerial map.

More than 10,000 Rai of land was found clear cut, mainly for agriculture and tourism related businesses, in a massive deforestation that threatens the watershed. It is feared this will negatively affect the area and it is suspected the clear cut was done because some ‘influential investors’ have bought up forest land to develop into tourist destinations.

Col Uthai Chaichana, Commander of the 7th Infantry Regiment reported that a helicopter mapping the area on June 24 discovered the devastated forest land and has disseminated seeds to help reforest the area. The hardest hit areas were on the Thai – Myanmar border and Pang Mapha and Pai districts.

Col Uthai said that some of the deforested land is being used for farming by local Thai villagers who are growing rice, sesame, corn, bean and other field crops as well as for a corporate agricultural projects and tourism related businesses like mountain resorts.

Pai district is counted/ regarded as the country’s number one tourist destination and during the past two years, it was one of the world’s top 50 tourist attraction.

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[chiangmaimail]2010/07/06[/chiangmaimail]