Bt50m sought to clear illegal rubber farms
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The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry is seeking Bt50 million |to clear extensive illegal rubber plantations in headwater areas in the South.
There has been extensive encroachment into national forest reserves and wildlife parks because parawood is going for a higher price, the ministry said in its written requested submitted to the Cabinet yesterday.
In 2009, 14,000 rai of restricted land was encroached upon and replaced by rubber plantations, while 4.9 million cubic metres of wood from trees felled illegally is still unaccounted for.
So far, 552 suspects have been arrested in 1,515 cases.
The ministry also said that 18,000 rai of restricted areas and another 9.8 million cubic metres of wood are missing over the past three years, the report said.
