Mae Wong Area should be 'protected as wildlife
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Building a dam would waste precious forestland, drive away wildlife
An environmental agency is urging the government to ask the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) to include Mae Wong National Park in the list of the Thung YaiHuai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries, which have been recognised as one of Thailand’s natural heritage sites.
“We have found that the Mae Wong National Park is one of the richest forests in the country and a habitat to diverse species, especially tigers,” Sasin Chalermlarb, Sueb Nakhasathien Foundation’s secretarygeneral, said. “We hope it will become an important wildlife breeding area.”
The Mae Wong National Park, located in Nakhon Sawan province’s Mae Wong district, was established more than 25 years ago. Previously it was designated as a forest concession area, though settlers tore down a large swathe of the forested area.
Now, however, the area has been reforested and according to a study conducted by Wildlife Conservation Society, at least eight wild tigers were recently spotted. Researchers have also found tapir, black bear, wild boars and peacocks in the area.
“This indicates that it is a rich natural forest that we need to protect,” Sasin said, adding that since many surrounding forest areas had been degraded to make space for humans, many wild animals had migrated to the Mae Wong National Park.
He said the Seub Nakhasathien Foundation and the World Conservation Society of Thailand were calling on the National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation Department to propose that Unesco name the Mae Wong and the Klong Lan national parks as wildlife sanctuaries.
Sasin said the government’s plan to build the Mae Wong Dam, with a capacity for 250million cubic metres of water, would slow down reforestation and damage animal habitats.
“It is not worth using 10,000 rai of precious forested land to construct a dam,” he said, adding that the water stored by the dam would not be enough for farmers, especially those who grow rice.
“The water stored in the dam is enough just for 40 days, while rice takes about 90 to 120 days to mature,” he said.
Also, he said, the water stored in the dam would only be enough for Nakhon Sawan’s Lat Yao district. The Royal Irrigation Office had previously said that the water could irrigate more than 200,000 rai, including three districts in Nakhon Sawan as well as the Sawang Arom district in Uthai Thani.
“This dam is not the answer for irrigation and flood prevention,” Sasin added.
Meanwhile, 69yearold shopkeeper Payao Manakul said he supported the plan to build the Mae Wong Dam because it would provide irrigation for farmers in the Mae Wong district and other nearby areas.
However, another Mae Wong resident who wanted to remain unnamed said she disagreed with the plan because her home would be flooded if the dam project went ahead.
“No one has come to ask me about the project. We don’t know how the dam will affect my home, which is located near the construction site,” she said. “We are waiting for the National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation Department to provide us with more details.”
Meanwhile, Damrong Phidej, directorgeneral of the National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation Department, said he did not know when he would visit the Mae Wong Dam site and meet local people.
