New ecosystem management plan for the Western Forest Complex
A new ecosystem management plan for the Western Forest Complex was launched on 8th May 2002 by the Forestry Department's Natural Resources Conservation office, to ensure sustainable use of forest resources.
The 18,000sqkm complex comprises six wildlife sanctuaries, nine national parks and two forest reserves that will soon become national parks. It is home to 99 communities, with more than 23,000 dwellers, which has raised concerns about the health of the forests.
Under the plan, the complex would be divided into 4 land-use categories to serve different purposes, including conservation, recreation and settlement of forest dwellers. Each category or zone would have a unique management plan.
Zone
A covers the most pristine
area with the most diverse flora and fauna. It would be protected for ecological
research only.
Zone B covers areas relatively less pristine but whose ecology is in the process of self-recovery.
Zone C covers areas suitable for recreation and tourism.
Zone D covers degraded forest areas where land would be designated for community and agricultural purposes.
Officials stressed that minimum facilities would be provided to serve tourism and efforts would be spent to ensure it would cause no environmental impact. The ecosystem management of the Western Forest Complex started in 1999 with financial assistance from Denmark, to provide protection to forests based on scientific know-how. Emphasis is also placed on promoting public participation to ensure long-term effectiveness of the plan. Six Western Forest Complex Conservation Committees have been established in Kanchanaburi, Kamphaeng Phet, Nakon Sawan, Suphan Buri, Tak and Uthai Thani.
The Western Forest Complex, where the World Heritage sites of Thung Yai Naresuan and Huai Kha Khaeng wildlife sanctuaries are located, harbours over 2,500 plant species, 120 mammal and 400 bird species.
The plan has now been forwarded to the
government for approval and is expected to be ratified by October, when the
newly created Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will be in place,
in accordance with bureaucratic reforms.
