National park authorities want restrictions imposed on how many bamboo worms can be taken across the border to Laos via the Ban Huak crossing in Phayao to curb the illegal felling of bamboo in the province.
The recommendation was floated at a recent Protected Area Committee (PAC) meeting attached to Phu Sang National Park in Phayao. The chief of the park described it as an urgent problem.
The PAC members expressed concern about the depletion of wild bamboo stocks. As the worms live inside the trunks of the bamboo, they must be chopped down so the animals can be scooped out.
The problem is intensifying as the hunting season is approaching. Several forested areas have already reported suffering damage from hunters seeking the worms.
Although hunting them is not illegal, felling trees in a forest reserves is a violation of the law. The worms are usually deep-fried and sold as snacks to tourists. Huge amounts are ferried over the land border to Laos, where they are in high demand.
Delegates at the PAC meeting said they would ask border-clearance authorities to impose a restriction on the quantity of worms that can be taken across the border. They agreed on 1kg per person, officials said. "The measures are expected to enforced before the bamboo worm-harvesting season comes," said Mr Banthom. "village leaders will be contacted to run public relations campaigns to raise awareness of them."
Anusat Suriya, the kamnan of tambon Phu Sang, said the worms boost the local economy during harvesting season, when they fetch up to 500 baht per kilogramme.
But he agreed with the recommendation to impose control measures, saying it was important to limit hunting but also balance this with local people's need to make a living.
Siroj Chomjai, chairman of the PAC, said the committee also discussed ways to fight the illegal logging of merkus and kesiya pine in the park. Both are commonly used by villagers as firewood.