Forest plan legitimises communities

Forest plan legitimises communities

Locals must protect land in exchange

Loei: By law, most of the forest in Na Haeo district in the northern province of Loei should be off-limits for habitation.

Surasak: 'Not right to force people out'

Located in a mountainous area, about 80% of the forest in Na Haeo district has been classified as Watershed Class 1 land, which prohibits locals from living on it or monetising the natural resources.

Yet in reality, 22 villages, containing over 50,000 villagers, are settled there in violation of the classification.

Technically, these villagers should be moved out and penalised. However, Gen Surasak Kanjanarat, the environment minister, said the ministry has decided not to do so.

"Forcing them out of the forest is not the right decision," the minister told media during a press trip to Na Haeo forest which has been chosen as a pilot case for the government's "Land Allocation" scheme.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has chosen around 11,000 rai in Na Haeo district for a pilot project.

The scheme is an attempt by the government to adopt a forest dweller-inclusive environmental protection model. In the past, the first move by authorities was to evict groups considered to be trespassers.

However, the government has stipulated that all villagers who are granted permission to remain in forests must agree to contribute to the protection of the land.

Gen Surasak said these are not rights of ownership being granted, but a new approach to community management.

"Under the scheme, only strong communities with proven track records of protecting forest would be allowed to stay," Gen Surasak added.

"From now on, villagers and officials must work together. Villagers need to change their mindset and help to protect the forest, in order to preserve their right to stay. There is no place for further encroachment anymore," Gen Surasak told a local audience during his inspection of the scheme on Monday.

According to Attapol Charoenchansa, deputy director-general of the Royal Forest Department, local people will also be encouraged to help develop environmentally friendly uses for the land with the help of local officials.

Under the agreement, local must retain 20% of the provided land as green belt by planting trees recommended by the department. Moreover, they must cut back on their use of pesticide and chemical fertilisers when farming.

Mr Attapol also said the department is considering retracting the protected legal status of the area if it is proved that that zone was occupied before the cabinet's resolution on June 30, 1998.

Hom Sookserm, a 53-year-old farmer who owns 23 rai, which she uses to grow crops to feed her family in Na Bho village, praised the project and called it a sustainable solution for forest protection and poverty reduction.

She said she has lived in the forest since 1990 and that villagers are grateful at being allowed to stay and keen to help to preserve the environment.

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