The Marine and Coastal Resources Department plans to reclaim possession of at least 300,000 rai of encroached mangrove forest areas nationwide within the next five years.
The department's plan will be in line with the National Council for Peace and Order's (NCPO) policy to deal with land encroachment problems.
Under the same policy, the NCPO hopes to provide the rights to administering mangrove forest areas to communities close by so they can help preserve the mangrove forests.
Department director-general Chonlatid Suraswadi said his department plans to regain possession of at least 300,000 rai of mangrove forest areas nationwide from those encroaching on them.
Deteriorated mangrove areas can be found in many provinces. (Bangkok Post photo)
He said he will propose the plan immediately after new Natural Resources and Environment Minister Gen Dapong Ratanasuwan officially takes up his position at the ministry.
Mr Chonlatid said that his department had obtained information about the forest encroachment and discovered that many local people and investors have been turning the mangrove forest into shrimp farming areas.
"We will rehabilitate 150,000 rai of the mangrove forest areas while the rest will be allocated to local communities and their people who have the abilities required to protect and preserve them," he said.
He said that the department will work closely with local people and educate them on how best to improve their shrimp farms with environmentally friendly technology that will not have any negative impacts on their communities.
The plan to recover the mangrove forest areas has yet to be implemented.
According to the department, there are 2.9 million rai of mangrove forest areas in 24 provinces, with 1.52 million rai classed as fertile areas.
However, many of the mangrove forest areas have now been transformed into shrimp farms, but some locals and investors have already abandoned them.