Encroached mangrove forest seized in Surat Thani
published : 21 Jul 2017 at 10:16
writer: Supapong Chaolan
SURAT THANI – Authorities seized more than 500 rai of encroached mangrove forest in Tha Chang district on Thursday.
The raid, jointly conducted by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), the military and local administrative officers, was part of a national operation to restore mangrove forests.
DMCR deputy director-general Sopon Thongdee said a total of 544 rai and 3 blocks of mangrove forest reserve land were confiscated in coastal tambons of Khao Than and Tha Khoei in Tha Chang district.
Located on the land were deserted shrimp farms and palm oil plantations. There were no people there.
Wissanu Chaengjai, chief of the Mangrove Development Station 13 (Tha Chang), later lodged a complaint with Tha Chang police in order to track down suspects in the land encroachment.
Mr Sopon said the department had planned to reclaim about 15,000 rai of mangrove forest land nationwide this year. The target had already been exceeded, with 15,254 rai impounded in 333 cases.
In Surat Thani, over 1,700 rai of encroached mangrove land had also been reclaimed so far.
Some owners also held Nor Sor 3 Kor documents, which certify land use. Authorities would investigate whether the documents were issued legally, Mr Sopon said.
- Keywords
- Mangrove
- forest
- Surat Thani
