DSI chief Paisit Wongmuang today (June 3) inspected the mangrove forest areas at Kuku village following a complaint by local residents that an investor had cleared part of the forest.
Anucha Harn-ard, acting head of Ban Kuku mangrove forest conservation group, said the encroached areas were part of Bangchilao-Khlong Thacheen national forest reserve in tambon Rassada.
People living around the forest have guarded the area and planted trees. However, parts of the mangrove had been encroached by the investor, who claimed to hold a title deed to one block of the land and was in the process of applying for a title deed for a section next to it, said Mr Anucha.
The investor claimed he had Sor Kor 1 land occupation papers for the two plots before applying for title deeds, said Mr Anucha. He did not name the investor.
“We have fought to protect this mangrove forest for 10 years. This covers 800 rai and was declared a national forest reserve in 1958. Local residents have not encroached on the forest areas.
“If the area falls into the hands of investors they might develop it with piers or resorts because this is a prime location with access to other islands. Many investors have their eyes on the forestland,” said Mr Anucha.
Phudit Raksarat, mayor of Rassada Municipality, said several villages in the community were located near mangrove forests. Ban Kuku villagers have played a key role in protecting the mangrove forest in their area. The municipality had supported the villagers’ activities to protect the forest, the mayor said.
Col Paisit said DSI investigators would collect aerial photographs and other evidence to prove if the alleged encroached areas were forestland.
The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources and other concerned agencies had jointly launched an operation to reclaim mangrove forest areas in Phuket between May 29 and May 31. Authorities had arrested 22 encroachers and reclaimed 669 rai of encroached forest.
Meanwhile, the Land Department has revoked title deeds for two land plots in Phuket after a probe found the land was part of Khao Nak Kerd forest reserve.
Apinan Suethanuwong said today that a committee looking into the issuing of land ownership documents concluded that land title deeds No 98414 and No 98415 for the two blocks of land in Karon were unlawfully issued.
The department had issued an order on May 12 revoking the two title deeds, he added.
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