25/10/2011
Bangkok Post
Opinion
Without strong legal action against illegal loggers, Thailand will continue to face severe flooding and drought in coming years.
This year's flood disaster is clear testimony to our failure to protect national forests. Mud and landslides occurred in many areas where the mountains were denuded of trees. So what we have seen could be likened to a man-made disaster.
The question is, why has illegal logging been allowed to continue?
Forestry officials have told me that massive illegal logging is still going on along the border with Laos and Cambodia. These loggers are protected by heavily-armed militia in the pay of influential people. Armed only with shotguns, Thai forestry officials are no match for these mafia-type gangsters.
Nearly 600,000 rai of dense forests along the border with Laos and Cambodia are now under threat. Of course, some corrupt Thai officials are also involved in this massive deforestation.
To cope with this growing threat, the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department has requested a budget to buy 5,000 M16 rifles for its forest guards, I hope its request will be accepted by higher authorities.
In addition to suppression operations, the government should step up its campaign to educate the Thai public about the importance of forest conservation. Greater public awareness can help save national forests and people's lives.
2 comments:
It is the fact that deforestation will course flooding and drought, Cambodia will be the same if they are keeping on logging and deforestation. Thailand is the Example.
I don't buy this LIE.
This Lie doesn't cut it.
Couldn't prove to me by science.
LIE< LIE> LIE N more LiE
Naive
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