The Network of Kaeng Krachan Protection and Conservation has pledged to carry out protests against the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation if it does not stop its plan to construct a concrete road to Khao Panoen Thung through Kaeng Krachan National Park in Kaeng Krachan district of Phetchaburi.
On Monday, the network unveiled its next move, when 30 representatives submitted a letter to the Phetchaburi governor, demanding he exercise his power to suspend the construction of the road until local opinion is courted and a proper environmental study is carried out to ensure the project will not negatively affect the sensitive ecology of the area.
The network said they fear that the vastly upgraded road will lead to vehicles travelling through the area at speed, which will pose a threat to wildlife.
Chamlong Wilailert, the network's coordinator, said that local conservationists are not happy with the project due to the potential death toll from road accidents.
After more than 3,000 animals were found to have been killed in road accidents in Khao Yai National Park last year, the World Heritage site in Nakhon Ratchasima province, he said his network fears that this scenario could be repeated in Kaeng Krachan if a road is built cutting through the wild animals' habitat.
"We disagree with the department's decision to construct a concrete road through these sensitive areas in order to facilitate a large number of tourists. In fact, this sensitive ecosystem must be preserved for the wildlife with even less disturbance from human activity," he said, adding that the network and its alliance will work together until the department cancels the project.
They also said that they fear the department will push ahead while making promises about controlling the speed of cars travelling along the road, which will inevitably need repairs after the road opens.
The department signed a contract on Sept 27 with two private construction companies to improve the condition of the existing road along one 3.4-kilometre stretch at a budget of 8.8 million baht and another 18.5-kilometre section for 79 million baht. The work is estimated to need 150 days to complete and the department has announced it will close the entrance to Khao Phanoen Thung on Nov 1 until the project is completed.
Mana Permphul, chief of Kaeng Krachan National Park, said that the contract has already been signed, adding that the narrowness of the road and the number of turns along it will make it difficult for vehicles to travel at high speed.
Moreover, Mr Mana added that the park will limit the number of vehicles allowed through to 250 per day, most of which will be local buses. He also said that as it is one-way only, that is likely to make the road much safer. There will also be a number of checkpoints set up to monitor the speed of cars travelling along the route, he said.
Khao Panoen Thung is famous as a camping destination due to its beautiful scenery, which is especially picturesque during the early morning mist. It is also renowned for the abundance and variety of its wildlife, especially butterflies. Around 160,000 people visit the park each year.