ABOUT 3000 rai of forest trees have been illegally harvested on a Thalang hilltop. Only 1500 rai of good, tall timber remained on Bang Kanoon forest, Phuket Governor Wichai Praisa-ngob said today.
Governor Wichai showed the devastated area, still spattered with toppled logs and blunt stumps, to Environment and Resources Ministry senior investigating officer Montip Srirattana, from Bangkok.
He said he believed officers in the Environment and Resources office on Phuket probably knew what was happening.
Catching the tree cutters was always difficult, he said. Catching those who benefitted from the robbery was even harder.
The governor wanted the Bangkok officials to see the scale of the theft today. He said there were similar patches showing the signs of stolen timber all over Phuket. They could be easily seen from a helicopter.
Many of the trees were decades old and others were rare species. He said the stolen wood was sold and the people behind the thieves then planted rubber.
In 10 years, they were able to ask for a chanote title to the land, he said.
Khun Montip said that modern satellite technology was now being used and was a more effective means of tracking illegal activities.
She said she would try to trace who might have knowledge of the illegal activities.
Phuketwan has been told that Google Earth reveals many properties on Phuket that have been built above the 80 metre limit, including some close to Patong and Kamala.
Phuket Governor Lashes Environment 'Guardians'Governor Wichai showed the devastated area, still spattered with toppled logs and blunt stumps, to Environment and Resources Ministry senior investigating officer Montip Srirattana, from Bangkok.
He said he believed officers in the Environment and Resources office on Phuket probably knew what was happening.
Catching the tree cutters was always difficult, he said. Catching those who benefitted from the robbery was even harder.
The governor wanted the Bangkok officials to see the scale of the theft today. He said there were similar patches showing the signs of stolen timber all over Phuket. They could be easily seen from a helicopter.
Many of the trees were decades old and others were rare species. He said the stolen wood was sold and the people behind the thieves then planted rubber.
In 10 years, they were able to ask for a chanote title to the land, he said.
Khun Montip said that modern satellite technology was now being used and was a more effective means of tracking illegal activities.
She said she would try to trace who might have knowledge of the illegal activities.
Phuketwan has been told that Google Earth reveals many properties on Phuket that have been built above the 80 metre limit, including some close to Patong and Kamala.
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They cut down the trees and planted rubber trees? And then, according to the article they can later apply for a land title? And then the article explains that it is "hard to know" who felled the trees, and who might benefit?
Just a shot in the dark here, but MAYBE the officials should start looking at the people growing, tapping and processing the rubber? And MAYBE the person that wants a land title have to identify him or herself in order to get the aforementioned title?
Posted by christos on January 21, 2010 21:32