The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation held a two-day public hearing in the Nakhon Ratchasima provincial hall on Thursday and Friday, to gauge the views of settlers in Tap Lan National Park on a proposal, by the National Land Policy Committee (NLPC), to carve out over 42,400 hectares of the park to be turned into ‘Sor Por Kor’ land.
Sources who attended the hearing said that most of those there, including farmers and resort owners who occupy land in the park, are in favour of the NLPC’s proposal under the “One Map” model, which was approved by the cabinet last year and recently acknowledged by the National Parks Committee.
Supporters of the proposal say that, if the land is re-categorised as ‘Sor Por Kor’ land, they will have legal rights over the land they occupy, which will increase their financial security.
Chaiwat Limlikhitaksorn, chief of the Office of National Parks, voiced his opposition to the proposal though, questioning whether the settlers want the land to make a living or just want title deeds so they can sell the land legally to landlords or other purchasers.
He also questioned why the National Parks Committee had acknowledged the NLPC’s proposal, noting that it will not solve the land encroachment problem in conserved forests or national parks. The proposal is not in line with the National Parks Act either, which advocates ways and means to resolve land conflicts in conserved forests.
Panudet Kerdmali, president of the Seub Nakhasathien Foundation, pointed out that resort operators are already occupying over 24,000 hectares in Tap Lan National Park and they will benefit the most from the proposal.
He warned that, if part of the park is to be carved out and turned into ‘Sor Por Kor’ land, thus bringing it under the land reform program, it will set a precedent for other national parks and forest reserves where encroachment is rampant, such as on Samet Island off Rayong and Khao Khor in Phetchabun province.
Panudet warned that the foundation would take the case to the court if the proposal is implemented.
Tap Lan National Park covers about 280,000 hectares in Pak Thong Chai, Wang Nam Khiao, Khon Buri and Soeng Sang districts of Nakhon Ratchasima and Nadee district of Prachin Buri.
Under the “One Map” model, if some 42,400 hectares of land are carved out of the park, to resolve the problems with the settlers, about 12,800 hectares in Chorakhe Hin sub-district in Khon Buri district will be annexed into the national park.
