New forestry law has harsher penalties for encroachers and illegal loggers
Forest encroachers caught clearing land or burning trees, in any of Thailand’s national parks or gardens, in order to occupy the land, will soon face jail terms of up to 20 years and/or a fine of as much as two million baht under the new National Parks Act, which will come into effect 180 days after its publication in the Royal Gazette today.
If the encroachment is committed in A1 or A2 watershed areas, the offenders will face even stiffer penalties. Anyone who causes damages to natural resources in national parks or botanical gardens, whether intentional or through carelessness, will be liable to pay compensation to the state.
