The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation will revoke, if charged, the right to live in a conserved forest for eight settlers, after they were caught allegedly logging illegally in Phupan National Park in Kud Bak district of Thailand’s north-eastern province of Sakhon Nakhon.

Officials from the department have seized 17 logs of the precious Padauk tree (Pterocarpus macrocarpus) from the eight suspects, plus a crane, a six-wheel truck and a ten-wheel truck.

According to Atthaphon Charoenchansa, the department chief, the eight suspects are among settlers who were allowed to live in conserved forests on the condition that they must not cut any naturally-grown trees, especially precious trees, or their settlement rights would be revoked.

Moreover, he said that the suspects will face charges of illegal logging.