BANGKOK, Jan 15 (TNA) – Thailand plans to re-submit its
proposal to list the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex as the UNESCO World Heritage
Site after the previous proposal was rejected last year.
The national world heritage committee held a meeting on
Wednesday chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan. Prawit acknowledged and congratulated former
Thai ambassador to Paris Sihasak Phuangketkeow for winning a seat on UNESCO’s
World Heritage Committee last year.
After being selected to fill the vacant seat at the 22nd
session of the General Assembly of States Parties to the World Heritage
Convention in Paris last year, Thailand has stated its willingness to ask the
Committee to reconsider the proposed listing of the Kaeng Krachan Forest
Complex.
In April last year, the World Heritage Committee rejected
Thailand’s proposal and asked Thailand to review the technical aspects of the
revised territory of the complex.
Prawit told the meeting that listing of the complex as World
Heritage would immensely boost natural conservation efforts as well as improve
quality of life of people in the local communities.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Itthiphol
Kunplome said related agencies planned to finalized the new proposal and submit
it to the Committee within this month for the Committee to consider in June.
If the Committee approves, Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex, which
covers about 1.14 million acres in Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri
Khan, will be Thailand’s 6th World Heritage site. (TNA)
