Encounters between wild elephants and vehicles in Khao Yai National Park will not affect its world heritage status since measures have been adopted to limit confrontations between the two, the government says.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Gen Dapong Rattanasuwan says the problem of elephants in the park attacking tourists' vehicles and ransacking villagers' properties can be managed satisfactorily.
Thailand's Report on the State of Conservation at the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex, to be sent to the World Heritage Commission, mentions the wild elephant and vehicle encounters at the park, which occurred in December last year and earlier this month.
The report says measures for tackling the problem are now in place, including raising awareness of eco-tourism and tourist safety through social media, installing warning signs along roads, conducting research on wild elephant behaviour, using CCTVs for surveillance of wild elephants and closing access to the park from 6pm to 6am.
The report was drawn up in response to a request from Unesco's World Heritage Committee for Thailand to deal with the illegal Siamese rosewood (phayung) trade. The committee said the illegal logging threatens the forest complex's world heritage status.
The National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department then drafted a five-year Action Plan on Prevention and Suppression of Illegal Logging and Trade in Dong Phayayen-Khoa Yai Forest Complex World Heritage Property (2015-2019).
It covers measures on preventing and suppressing illegal logging, trade and transport, and promoting public participation in preserving the forest.
The report said the number of illegal rosewood timber cases has fallen from 642 cases in the 2014 fiscal year to only 59 cases so far in the 2015 fiscal year.
In addition, regional dialogue has begun on preventing illegal logging and trading from the lower Mekong Region and China, it said.
"I could say the report to Unesco's committee shows achievements and progress in dealing with its concerns about the illegal trade of Siamese rosewood,'' Gen Dapong said.
"We have done many things to meet their requests with satisfactory results," he added.
The report should be submitted to the World Heritage Commission by Feb 20. The commission would then consider whether the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex will be put on the danger list.
The committee had also demanded a commitment that no more dams will be built in the forest complex after Thailand began construction of the Huay Samong dam there. Thailand has refused to give any such commitment.
The committee also asked for clarification on the expansion of Highway 348, which passes through the forest complex to connect Sa Kaew province to Buri Ram province. The department says it has not yet approved a feasibility study for the project.
As for the reopening of Route 3462, a small back road, the department said the reopening was for the purpose of officials' patrols and tourism only, not for transport.
The route will not affect the core area of Pang Sida National Park in the forest complex as feared.
Thailand's world heritage committee, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan, yesterday approved the report. It will be sent to the World Heritage Commission after being reviewed.