BANGKOK, Oct 4 (TNA) — The government gears up to designate 15,000 community forests with participation of local residents to manage and conserve their local natural resources.
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon on Thursday presided over the meeting of the community forest policy committee, comprising Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa and representatives from agencies concerned.
The meeting considered the plan to issue subordinate legislation to expedite the enforcement of the Community Forest Act and to promote community right in managing local resources.
The five-year plan targets to designate 15,000 community forests across the country and to empower 18,000 villages to have a say in community forest management.
Local committees will be form to do the tasks and the community forests will encompass 10 million rai or about 4 million acres of the country.
Gen Prawit said establishment of community forests will help local residents utilise their natural resources to earn income in the form of community enterprises and ecotourism.
It will also promote forest conservation by local people, he said. (TNA)
