Doi Suthep-Pui National Park authorities have filed a police complaint after 15 trees, including wild Himalayan cherry trees known locally as “Nang Phaya Sua Krong”, were cut down and sawn into 46 logs at a popular tourist spot in Chiang Mai.
The site, in Ban Hmong Doi Pui, Muang district, marks the location of a past royal visit and is historically significant.
Local residents planted the trees and have cared for them for more than 20 years.
The pink blossoms of the wild Himalayan cherry, often dubbed Thailand’s sakura, have made the site a must-visit photo spot for tourists during the cool season.
The incident came to light after the mayor of Suthep Municipality raised concerns about the tree felling and called for an investigation. Some local residents have also expressed anger over the loss of trees they had helped nurture for more than two decades.
The incident comes as the season for viewing the pink wild Himalayan cherry blossoms on Doi Pui approaches. The season typically begins in December and peaks in January.
On Friday, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin ordered the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation to investigate the incident urgently and ensure that those responsible face legal action.
Yongyut Nakawiroj, director-general of the department, said he had instructed Thongchai Nararat, chief of Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, to coordinate with police and local administrative authorities to gather evidence, identify those responsible and step up patrols to prevent similar incidents.
An inspection found that 15 trees had been cut down with chainsaws and processed into 46 logs. They comprised 11 wild Himalayan cherry trees cut into 40 logs, two golden shower trees cut into three logs, one Indian trumpet tree cut into one log and one Norfolk Island pine cut into two logs.
Thongchai said the group involved had initially sought verbal permission to improve the landscape and clean up the area.
He had agreed to allow rubbish collection and grass cutting but had not authorised the felling of any trees.
The group claimed that the wild Himalayan cherry trees had been cut down to make logs for use in creating rose-growing plots as part of landscaping work ahead of the coming cool-season tourist period.
Thongchai said the felling had gone beyond the scope of the permission granted, prompting park authorities to take legal action.
The park filed a complaint at Phuping Rajanives Police Station on October 22.
The felling could have violated the National Parks Act 2019, the Forest Act 1941 and the National Reserved Forests Act 1964.
Doi Suthep-Pui National Park covers about 2,240 hectares and oversees more than 5,000 land plots, with 54 communities located along its boundaries.
Main photo: Thailand’s sakura trees at Doi Suthep-Pui National Park (file photo, left) and park officials carrying logs from recently felled trees at the site (right).
