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08 May 2002 |
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FORESTRY |
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ecosystem management plan for the Western Complex |
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Facilities for tourism won't be that many |
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A new ecosystem management
plan for the Western Forest Complex was launched yesterday 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 four 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.
Communities and agricultural land would be under Zone D which covers
degraded forest areas.
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 project started
in 1999 with financial support 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, officials said.
Six Western Forest Complex Conservation Committees have been established
in Kanchanaburi, Kamphaeng Phet, Nakhon Sawan, Suphan Buri, Tak and
Uthai Thani.
The Western Forest Complex, where the World Heritage sites 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 will be forwarded to Forestry chief Plodprasop Suraswadi for
approval. It will also be proposed to the new Ministry of Natural
Resources and Environment, which is expected to be in place in October,
in accordance with the government's bureaucratic reform plan. |
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