New scheme to end row over forest encroachment

This scheme is designed to ease land disputes between the state and locals who claim they or their ancestors lived in the area long before it was officially declared a forest zone. 

“We hope the scheme will create a win-win situation,” said Chakree Rodfai, director of the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry’s Mangrove Resources Conservation Office. He said locals would get the right to use the land through newly issued land-rights documents, while authorities would be able to reclaim some parts of the forest for rehabilitation and conservation. 

But he said locals will not have the right to sell the land they would be entitled to via the scheme. He added that the scheme is in response to a policy announced by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Kasemsun Chinnavaso. 

In the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat, the scheme will cover 27,000 rai. The whole area will be divided into three categories: forest rehabilitation area, community forest area, and an area locals can use for income. 

Chakree said locals could use the mangrove area for their livelihood. They would be able to operate shrimp farms there too. But their use of the land would be monitored and managed via a land co-operative. 

A senior official at the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry announced last week that beneficiary families in Nakhon Si Thammarat would get about 30 rai of land each. 

Natural Resources and Environment Minister General Surasak Kanjanarat also said in response to Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha’s policy, authorities would also step in to provide occupational advice to the beneficiary families. 

Chakree said the scheme in Nakhon Si Thammarat would also include 50 poor and landless families from other zones. 

“This is in addition to locals who have long lived in the forest zones,” he said.