CityNews – October 4th, at Ban Khun Chang Kian in Chang Puek Sub District, around 200 military personnel from the 33rd Military Circle, officials from The National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, Chiang Mai Office, local authorities, residents, and other groups involved hosted a project to plant trees on the Suthep-Pui National Park.
The trees were planted on a total of 230 rai of degraded forest.
General Kosol Prathumchat, in charge of the 33rd Military Circle said that according to the national policy set for the next 10-15 years of increasing the forestry land in Thailand by 40% (128 million rai), the military is doing its part in realising this goal. Today, he said, Thailand has 32% of land which is considered forest and the two areas which the military will focus and work on is to stop illegal encroachment onto national park lands as well as to plant and maintain more trees.
The military is working with all organisations and individuals in the field ranging from local authorities, villagers to government agencies. The 230 rai of land has been reclaimed from illegal encroachers and will be cared for to return it to its natural ecosystem.
There will also be a campaign to spread information to the public to raise awareness of the issue.
