The government has so far reclaimed 173,973 rai of forest land which had been illegally occupied by encroachers, government spokesman Maj Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd said on Sunday.
Maj Gen Sansern said that with the target to restore forest area to cover 40% of the whole country, the government has launched suppression against forest encroachers and stop destruction of national forests.
With coordinated efforts of intelligence and foresty officials and cooperation from local people, the government was able to reclaim 107,000 rai of encroached forest land in 2014. The reclaimed area has expanded to 173,973 rai in 2015, he said.
Under Order No 66/2017 of the National Council for Peace and Order, the encroachers and those who provided them with financial backing are to face legal actions.
The spokesman said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha attaches importance to the plight of landless people, but destruction of natural resources will not be allowed.
The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry has been instructed to allow people in various communities to take part in efforts to solve this problem.
A committee for the handling of the national land policy has been established to lay down a plan to help low-income farmers and landless people to have their own land to make their living and to draw up the country's masterplan for sustainable use of land by the end of this year, Maj Gen Sansern said.