THAILAND: Mining land joined to wildlife sanctuary
Copyright 2001 Bangkok Post
October 10, 2001
The Forestry Department will annex a plot of mining land to Thung Yai Naresuan wildlife sanctuary, effectively ending mining in the area.
"This is the first time the department has reclaimed forest land from mining companies, which have seriously damaged the ecological system," said director-general Plodprasop Suraswadi yesterday. He hinted there was more to come. Environmentalists applauded the move and urged the department to take similar action in other areas of the wildlife sanctuary in the western part of the country.
Mr Plodprasop said the department urged the Mineral Resources Department to cancel mining concessions in areas adjacent to the wildlife sanctuary because the mining operations failed to meet environmental standards.
Rather than cancelling the concessions, the department said it would not renew the concessions, Mr Plodprasop said.
One mining concession has already expired while two others remain active.
The active concessions belong to Phol and Son Co and Moniko Co. Phol and Son operates a lead processing plant which heavily polluted Klity Creek in the wildlife sanctuary.
The pollution allegedly resulted in several deaths and illnesses among Karen villagers and killed many cattle.
"Although the concessions of the two mines have not yet expired, the operators must stop mining because my department has the authority to stop activities that threaten protected forests.
"For those concerned about the Karens of Phu Jue forest, I promise they will not be relocated. They could continue to live there," Mr Plodprasop said.
About 100 families of mining employees live in the area, Mr Plodprasop said. They encroached on forest land by building houses, farming, and poaching wild animals in Thung Yai Naresuan.
"The operators have also used the sanctuary's trails to transport their minerals and mining equipment. This is very harmful to wildlife," Mr Plodprasop said.
The National Wildlife Reservation and Protection Committee under the Agriculture Ministry on Monday approved the department's annexation plan.
The 67,500-rai mineral-rich area, better known as Phu Jue, was excluded from the sanctuary 30 years ago because it was occupied by three mining operators who won concessions from the department.
An environmentalist at the Seub Nakasathien Foundation praised the forestry chief's initiative and urged him to do "the same thing with other mining sites located in the western forest, the country's most pristine forest land".
Surapong Kongchantuk, head of the Karen Studies and Development Centre, suggested the department also annex Bo Ngam mine at the south of the sanctuary and Kemco mine in Lam Klong Ngu national park.
The forestry chief said it was possible the department would reclaim the land from every existing mine in the western forest.