Parks Department reveals nationwide greening success
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has in the last 20 months given the country 200,000 more rai of forest area, it announced on Thursday.
The achievement was announced during a media trek to Chiang Mai’s Si Lanna National Park hosted by the department.
The journalists were shown how the agency is rehabilitating a high-altitude watershed forest there.
Department officials said forestland has been increased in 150 national parks, covering 44.8 million rai.
They said the agency reclaimed 140,000 rai for reforestation last year and another 60,000 rai this year so far, with a target of 107,000 rai for the year.
Forest rehabilitation and reforestation improve the lives of hilltribes, it was noted, since the agency also propagates the teachings of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej regarding sustainability and a “sufficiency economy”.
The department has implemented vocational training in mountain communities that includes the cultivation of organic crops and the conservation of soil and water.