Forest-zone demarcation project started

 

The Koh Samui District Office has embarked on a project to demarcate the forest zones with a total area of 22,350 rai in mountainous areas in Lamai, Chaweng, Na Maung and Lipa Noi. One rai is equivalent to 1600 square meters.

Thani Viriyarrattanaporn. Deputy superintendent of the Forest Department, who is in charge of this project, said around 300 members of the Fruit Growers Association with orchards on Angthong, Na Muang, Bo Phut, Taling Ngam, Maenam and Maret have been directed to submit of landownership and to inform the officials how much land they own so that officials can accurately make demarcations between the forest zone and their orchards.

If they owned the lands before 1954, the Land Department will change the land document from Phor Bor Thor to Sor Khor 1 or from Sor Kor 1 to Nor Sor 3. They are also obliged to protect the forest and restore portions that have been damaged.

Lands claimed by investors would be subject to strict investigation to make sure that they are not encroached.

District Office chief Decha Kangsana said the local government sector has also assigned local residents to keep an eye on the community forest to prevent land investors from encroaching on public lands and selling them to foreign investors.

Meanwhile, Thanakorn Hoontrakul, son of the late hotel tycoon Akorn, donated about 5,000 rai of land on Koh Samui to the Koh Samui distruct for environmental conservation. The land, valued at about Bt 50 million, falls under the Phor Bor Thor 5 land type and covers areas in Bo Phut, Maenam, Anghtong, Lipa Noi and Na muang subdistricts.

Thanakorn, who also owns a 5-star resort Ban Thong Sai, said he donated the land so it could be part of the forest watershed for the next generation. He wants sustainable development rather than a fast growth that destroys the island's eco-system.