BANGKOK :-- The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)’s policy to return forest to the people is making headway as relevant government agencies are now back in action to implement the policy strictly.
The latest action taken was the
Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) which is now checking
on mangrove forests in all coastal provinces to see how much areas have
been encroached and occupied for personal interest.
The department yesterday despatched
personnel to take back encroached mangrove forests in Rayong province
which have been turned into shrimp farms.
The mission was undertaken by a
combined force of staff from Department of Marine and Coastal Resources
(DMCR), Royal Forest Department, Department of Special Investigation
(DSI), Internal Security Operations Command, and the police.
They inspected a number a shrimp
farm in Nearn Kor sub-district, Klang district in Rayong province which
revealed they had been established within protected mangrove forests.
An aerial inspection of the area
revealed that part of the shrimp farm is within the protected mangrove
forest. It seems that the shrimp farm was established in 1990 during the
shrimp export boom.
The owner of the farm is a local
businessman who holds a number land titles and deeds for seven plots of
which over 150 rai is within the protected mangrove forest.
The
ownership title also covers more than 500 rai of mangrove areas where
dikes have been put up to keep the sea at bay. The area right next to
the farm is a mangrove which shows evidence of it being developed for
farming.
According to Ms Cholthit
Surasawasdi, director general of the Department of Marine and Coastal
Resources, there are about 500,000 rai of suspected encroachment areas
which have now been occupied.
But authorities have inspected these areas and found that about 300,000 rai areas where owners do hold land title deeds.
Under the NCPO’s instructions,
authorities will prioritize investigations on those titles that were
issued before the protected areas were declared.
Only one of three mangrove areas
that have encroached into protected areas. The special investigative
team of the DMCR and other relevant agencies have advised farm owners in
the area of their crime and the government’s intent to reclaim the
encroached areas.
Criminal charges will be filed against two other farm owners in the area.
The two other farms take up over
250 acres of protected mangroves and the owners have not been able to
prove their ownership rights to officers.
Being a popular tourist
destination, encroachment within Rayong province is rampant where a
number of choice areas have been turned into shrimp farms, resorts and
restaurants.
The director general of the
Department of Marine and Coastal Resources said authorities have handed
over evidence to the DSI for further investigation.
Warrants will be issued and
property owners will be ordered to present their land titles and deeds
to investigators. Those who are unable to present ownership papers will
be charged.
Yesterday’s raid is the very
first such action from the DMCR to reclaim encroached land despite years
of blatant abuse to protected areas.
This is among the first of many investigations into encroachment issues which will span nationwide.
Mangrove forests are an important
aspect to the ecosystem as it is the spawning areas for all forms of
sea life.
They are also for newly hatched marine creatures and protects
coastal areas from erosion as it shelters sea front areas from strong
waves.
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