Forest Department has plan to seize back 5.1 million rai of rubber plantations

[Lite Beer]

Forest Department has plan to seize back 5.1 million rai of rubber plantations

BANGKOK: -- The Forest Department has targeted to reclaim 400,000 rai of land in national forest reserves which have been encroached and transformed into rubber plantations this year, said the department head Mr Thirapat Prayoonsit.

There are altogether 1,221 forest reserves scattering across the country and more than 1,000 of them have been encroached. The encroached land totals 5.1 million rai of which 4.1 million rai are in forest reserves, about one million rai in national parks and about 10,000 rai in mangrove forests.

Most of the encroached land have been turned into rubber plantations and the encroachers range from politicians, influential figures to businessmen and ordinary people.

Mr Thirapat said he would unveil the full details of the plan to wrestle back the state property from the encroachers on Monday.

An informed government source said that the encroached forest lands include A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5 watershed areas. According to the plan, all rubber trees in areas classified as A1 watershed will be uprooted and replaced and reforested to restore watershed areas. This means that 1.7 million rai of rubber plants in A1 and A2 watershed areas will be wiped out,

As for rubber plantations in A 3-5 watershed areas, rubber trees which are less than seven years old will be chopped down whereas those over seven years old will be kept and managed to community cooperatives or local administration bodies for the benefits of the localities.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/forest-department-has-plan-to-seize-back-5-1-million-rai-of-rubber-plantations

-- Thai PBS 2015-04-19

[Local Drunk]

Yes!

[Costas2008]

Good, that will solve the problem for the rest of the rubber plantation farmers that have seen the price of rubber going down.

Good news are coming in everyday.

Why shouldn't I like this government?

Justice at last is upon Thailand.

[issanaus]

And to think that some of the encroachers would be the same ones that have been complaining about rubber prices and putting their hands out for assistance. Lets watch and see what happens about that.

[halloween]

And to think that some of the encroachers would be the same ones that have been complaining about rubber prices and putting their hands out for assistance. Lets watch and see what happens about that.

If they have genuinely encroached, what difference does complaints and requests for assistance make?

This is prosecution of a crime, and "politically motivated" is worth less than a fart in a hurricane.

Edited April 19, 2015 by halloween

[issanaus]

And to think that some of the encroachers would be the same ones that have been complaining about rubber prices and putting their hands out for assistance. Lets watch and see what happens about that.

If they have genuinely encroached, what difference does complaints and requests for assistance make?

This is prosecution of a crime, and "politically motivated" is worth less than a fart in a hurricane.

"A Crime" lets say 1000's of crimes over many years (more than 10)

While some of those caught up in the events are small farmers who were just trying to make ends meet for their families (who I have sympathy for) many are the scum who have profited from their influence under a succession of governments.

Just as with the rice scheme, supporting the price of rubber a lot of the money is going to the rich (who have often become rich through corruption and other crimes). Clearly the government will not need to support the farmers with illegal rubber plantation - thus reducing the cost to the Thai people.

Returning to the poor and their communities for a moment. The plan to transfer the plantation in the less critical zones to the community will help to reduce the loss of jobs and may mean the wealth is handed to the community rather than those with political friends who encroached on large areas with impunity.

On paper (but yet to be delivered) is a nice balance between, environmental, water management, economic and social consideration

[seajae]

now all we have to do is see if they actually charge, jail and seize all these peoples assets to repay for all the corrupt money they made from them and to pay to restore the area to its original state, somehow I doubt it

[worgeordie]

The bigger question is why they were allowed to encroach in the first place,

there is too much after the fact in Thailand.

regards worgeordie

[chrisrazz]

This is a well and good, yet what have the Forest Dept. been doing in the past? Certainly not enforcing the law (unless you are a mushroom picker). There would have been very few forest encroachments had they been doing their job. The real crime is from within the Forestry Dept. These people are government officials, they have probably encouraged encroachment for personal gain, otherwise it could not have happened on such a massive scale, yet it is the encroachers who are to be penalised. I'm not saying encroachers are blameless, they are opportunists, who, ultimately, without the opportunity would never have been in this situation.

[issanaus]

This is a well and good, yet what have the Forest Dept. been doing in the past? Certainly not enforcing the law (unless you are a mushroom picker). There would have been very few forest encroachments had they been doing their job. The real crime is from within the Forestry Dept. These people are government officials, they have probably encouraged encroachment for personal gain, otherwise it could not have happened on such a massive scale, yet it is the encroachers who are to be penalised. I'm not saying encroachers are blameless, they are opportunists, who, ultimately, without the opportunity would never have been in this situation.

While the OP related to encroached land that has been used for rubber plantations you do raise an interesting point about corruption in the Forest Department especially and the associated issue of these that have been subject to charges and prison for "mushroom pickers". In a lot of those cases the allegation was made that the charges were brought about because of Forest Dept officials wishing to silence people who had seen too much. The most obvious example to identify is that of the circumstances relating to the disappearance of "Billy". The implication is that not only were the Forest Dept not doing their jobs, not only were they acting corruptly but actively assisted organisations in encroachment on Forest/National Park land.

While justice would dictate that the encroachers and officials should be made accountable for their action; justice may also mean that the convictions and sentences of those convicted of exploiting the environment for food should have their case reviewed.

[kerrysum]

And to think that some of the encroachers would be the same ones that have been complaining about rubber prices and putting their hands out for assistance. Lets watch and see what happens about that.

Yeah,

I have a sister-in-law, niece, and who knows what else in the same boat..... Makes me laugh......

[invex]

Good to hear. And now for once:

JUST DO IT !

[Bignose]

Excellent news that can only be welcomed, I have more than a sneaking suspicion that this will be followed through with (hopefully) prosecutions of the worst offenders.

Yes it is easy to post negative comments regarding previous corruption and "how" this was allowed to happen in the first place, we all know why this has happened. People with influence, power and the right connections were allowed to steal the use of this land from the state. There is no question in my mind that extensive corruption has been a major part of this crime against the Thai people, against the Thai people as they are ultimately the owners of this land.

It would be great if offences like these, including the corruption and nepotism, could be solved completely at the stroke of a pen, they cannot! This will require a prolonged and extensive investigation which will hopefully remove those who failed in their duty to the departments they worked for.

It is worth noting that one important message has been sent to those who were involved, or those who would like to be involved. The process has been started to eradicate this kind of behavior and to bring those involved to book, if you wish to continue with you're corrupt practices you will be caught!

If the previously normal and acceptable corrupt attitudes and practices are to be changed and eradicated, then this kind of reform must continue across all aspects of government both local and state...

[kaorop]

The bigger question is why they were allowed to encroach in the first place,

there is too much after the fact in Thailand.

regards worgeordie

Why?

obviously money

money to be made by someone and money for someone to look the other way

money money money

I've think i've seen an area encroached on, im guessing someone bought land backing onto forest and just kept going further in, right up the side of a quite steep hill and across the top

There are public tracks and signs about a certain native tree that has medicinal properties in the middle of this rubber plantation! The tracks are blocked off at the main road, I was on a MTB so could get around them and go deep into that area.

Though it seems someone said enough is enough and the trees on the side of the hill have been left untapped

Quite a large plot it was too.

you can see it here

Edited April 20, 2015 by kaorop