RFD slashes new planting target by half

RFD slashes new planting target by half

The Royal Forest Department (RFD) will cut this year's reforestation target by half due to a delayed budget allocation, department chief Boonchob Sutthamanuswong says.

According to the original plan, the RFD's reforestation scheme for this year was to cover 54,758 rai in 17 provinces, Mr Boonchob said.

The Budget Bureau, however, has yet to allocate the money to the department, so the reforestation target needs to be slashed to about 27,500 rai, he said.

The 168-million-baht reforestation project is part of the government's 350-billion-baht flood prevention scheme.

"We have prepared everything, including reforestation sites and saplings. But there is no money for us to do the work," he said.

"Even if we receive the budget today, it is impossible for us to meet the original target because all saplings must be grown before the end of the rainy season in August."Mr Boonchob said a committee from various agencies and local communities, would be set up to monitor the reforestation projects to ensure transparency.

An RFD source blamed the delay on "inconsistencies" in the Water and Flood Management Commission (WFMC), which oversees the 350-billion-baht flood prevention and water management scheme.

The WFMC, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi, developed uncertain policies and made policy changes on a daily basis, the source said.

He said the WFMC recently announced a new working procedure to implement the project, but it was difficult to execute. Under the procedure, the authorities would have to propose the project for the WFMC's consideration.

The WFMC would then forward the project to the cabinet for its approval.

Approved projects would be sent back to the WFMC for a final review before being forwarded to the Budget Bureau.

The process is complicated and the government takes a long time to approve each flood and water management project, the source said.

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