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THE NATION: 980327: 'Little done to
- Subject: THE NATION: 980327: 'Little done to
- From: suriya@xxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 26 Mar 1998 18:43:00
Politics
'Little done to end
logging problems'
Academics yesterday criticised the
government for ''doing too little too late'' in
addressing the massive illegal logging
problems at the Salween National Park and
Salween Wildlife Sanctuary.
Dr Somsak Sukwong, director of Regional
Community Forestry Training Centre
(RECOFTC), said illegal logging had been
going on in Mae Hong Son province for
over a decade and a large portion of the
forest could have been saved if the logging
had been suppressed earlier.
Somsak said that the present attempt by
the government to identify wrongdoers
would help to partly solve the problem, but
added that the government would have to
do more than just rely on the Royal Forestry
Department if it seriously intends to protect
the forests.
''Identifying officials who are involved in the
operations and moving them is a short-term
solution. The new officials could be as
corrupt as the earlier ones and the
problems could begin again,'' he said.
The expert suggested that the government
embrace the concept of forest protection by
communities of forest dwellers and those
who make use of forest products by
passing the Community Forest Bill at the
earliest.
He added that the rapid loss of the forest
area in the country each year showed that
the Royal Forestry Department was not
capable of protecting the forests.
Thongroj Onchant, president of the Thailand
Environment Institute, supported Somsak,
saying that the bill would promote public
participation in natural resources protection
which was in accordance with the
Constitution.
BY PENNAPA HONGTHONG
The Nation