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31 March 2003 |
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ILLEGAL LOGGING |
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| Thousands
of logs seized in crackdown |
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Thousands of logs and
pieces of processed teak have been seized during a three-month
crackdown in forests nationwide, during which the northern
province of Phrae was found to be the most active for the illegal
trade.
Businessmen in Phrae were buying illegal logs from nearby Phayao
and Lampang provinces, causing heavy deforestation along the
border, said Wichai Lamwilai, of the Department of National Parks,
Plant and Wildlife Conservation.
Some areas of these provinces located within Mae Yom National Park
had been declared wildlife refuges, he said.
Officials impounded 4,781 logs and 15,851 pieces of teak after
raids conducted during October and December. They also discovered
1.88 square kilometres of forest land had been destroyed by
encroachment.
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