There are altogether 1,221 forest reserves scattering across the country and more than 1,000 of them have been encroached. The encroached land totals 5.1 million rai of which 4.1 million rai are in forest reserves, about one million rai in national parks and about 10,000 rai in mangrove forests.
Most of the encroached land have been turned into rubber plantations and the encroachers range from politicians, influential figures to businessmen and ordinary people.
Mr Thirapat said he would unveil the full details of the plan to wrestle back the state property from the encroachers on Monday.
An informed government source said that the encroached forest lands include A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5 watershed areas. According to the plan, all rubber trees in areas classified as A1 watershed will be uprooted and replaced and reforested to restore watershed areas. This means that 1.7 million rai of rubber plants in A1 and A2 watershed areas will be wiped out,
As for rubber plantations in A 3-5 watershed areas, rubber trees which are less than seven years old will be chopped down whereas those over seven years old will be kept and managed to community cooperatives or local administration bodies for the benefits of the localities. – Thai Visa News