The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment said over 2,700 communities living in forest areas will be allowed to stay where they are under the new national park law.
Gen Surasak Kanjanarat, minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, told forestry officials yesterday the number of forest encroachers had doubled since the previous government announced a cabinet resolution dated 30 June 1998.
This allowed local communities to "temporarily" reside in such areas until measures were formulated to effectively deal with the problem, he said.
"This shows the problem remains, and there have been no amendments," Gen Surasak said.
"We are going to have the new national park law as a key tool to manage the problem. It grants people the right to live in forested areas [but] we need to discuss how they can live in harmony with the [local environment]."
In 1998 about 3 million rai of land was encroached on by locals but this has since jumped to 5.9 million rai, Gen Surasak said.
The minister said the new regulations will vary according to the type of forest. Those who stay in forest conservation zones will face tougher rules.
The bill is pending a review by the State of Council, after which it will be forwarded to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA). It proposes that forest dwellers should be allocated up to 20 rai per family, with their stay not exceeding 20 years.
A national park committee will consider whether to extend the period of stay on a case-by-case basis.
A source at the department said special fees may be collected if locals wish to extend their stay as the bill grants the department chief jurisdiction over this matter.
The bill however has failed to appease some local villagers who came out to oppose it. From their perspective, the bill still does not take into account community rights and local participation.
Boon Saejung at the People's Working Group for Conservation and Community Right said the body has submitted its own draft of the bill for the NLA's consideration.
He claimed the state-drafted version ignores the principle of community rights.
Mr Boon said the state version lacks a clause offering local communities limited forest land rights to protect and preserve the rights and culture of minority groups in accord with Section 70 of the charter.
Advocates of local people's rights say they should be allowed to live there under conditions set by the community.
The People's Working Group for Conservation and Community Right yesterday submitted its own version to the NLA for consideration, saying theirs is more in line with the new constitution that enshrines community rights and public participation in natural resource management.
