NLA passes forest bill that will see forest areas increasing to 40% in 10 years from 32%



BANGKOK: -- The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) yesterday passed a forest plantation bill with a vote of 185 -2 with five abstentions after three months of cautious deliberation.

The bill won first reading by the NLA in October last year.

The bill is crucial to the country’s effort to resolve the long standing problem of landless farmers, and intrusion of forest areas. It will enable better management of forest plantations and efforts in environmental protection and development.

It will also benefit six million para rubber farmers with 21 million rai of para rubber plantations who were not allowed to cut their trees and transport outside their areas unless having permits by forestry officials under the previous law. Having prior permit was prone to malpractices by officials which add cost to farmers.

The bill is an improved version of the 1992 Forest Plantation Law. It addresses problems relating to the processing and verification of timber harvested from registered forest plantations and the unclear status of wood and wildlife products in forest plantations.

Law makers were told that if the bill was promulgated, the country’s forest area was expected to increase to 40% in 2024, from 32% currently.

Besides it will prevent malpractices by officials demanding money from farmers planting para rubber trees.

Villagers are allowed to set up cooperatives to manage forest plantations in the event land title deeds cannot be issued, the bill states.

Chairman of the NLA committee on agricultural and agricultural cooperative Gen Danai Meechuwet said under the bill farmers who have their forest plantations registered will be allowed to harvest, process and transport wood products without paying fees.

Besides, criminal penalties against people who violate the law will be dropped , and replaced with administrative penalties on the grounds that the legislation is intended to promote tree planting.

He said a list of trees that can be grown and harvested is provided in the bill, noting that dozens of trees have been added to the list including para rubber, eucalyptus and mahogany.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/nla-passes-forest-bill-will-see-forest-areas-increasing-40-10-years-32


-- Thai PBS 2015-02-06

Ok as long as its not 40% more Rubber,Palm Oil,Eucalyptus trees,as they do the land

no good,and wildlife does not live in those kinds of forests.

regards worgeordie

I thought it was about reclaiming encroached land from the crooked Thais and tricky foreigners.

Good news.

And now how about sanctions against those who destroy the forest for capital gain.

Prefer to hear that.

"Having prior permit was prone to malpractices by officials which add cost to farmers."

Now really, imagine.

Anyway, I think the title should be amended to "... bill that might see ..."

Just make sure that you don't forget to tell the loggers in the Land