THAILAND - Conservation bills to be reviewed to restore balance

bangkokpost.com, Sunday December 17, 2006

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is set to review two controversial bills related to forest protection and wildlife conservation. The reviews are in response to concerns raised by conservationists over loopholes in the bills that critics say allow improper use of the country's natural resources.
The bills were drafted last year by the National Park, Wildlife and Forest Conservation Department.
Panas Tassaneyanond, legal adviser to the environment minister, admitted that a large number of clauses in the bills needed to be altered as they contradicted the objectives of conservation, embracing such things as the wildlife trade and the commercial use of national parks.
''I can assure you that the minister will review the bills. He is strongly committed to forest and wildlife conservation and will do his best to keep the natural resources,'' Mr Panas, ex-senator for Tak, said.
Conservation, and not tourism promotion, is the ultimate goal of the laws which are being scrutinised by the ministry before they are forwarded to cabinet for consideration.
Sasin Chalermlarp, deputy secretary-general of the Seub Nakhasathien Foundation, cast doubt on the clause that allows hotel construction in so-called service zones of national parks.

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