The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has ordered the indefinite closure of Salak Phra wildlife sanctuary in Kanchanaburi province, after 839 hot spots were detected there recently, 50% more than those reported last year.
Atthaphon Charoenchansa, the department’s director-general, said today that the significant increase in fires in the forest this year is a clear indication that local communities have not been cooperating with park officials in the prevention of wildfires.
The closure of the Salak Phra forest to all unauthorised people is intended to allow the forest to rehabilitate naturally, he explained.
Atthaphon warned that those caught setting fires in national parks, wildlife sanctuaries or forest reserves can face imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of up to two million baht if convicted.
He disclosed that, since last October, ten people have been arrested for starting fires, damaging more than 349 hectares of forests nationwide.
