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THE NATION: 980327: 'Little done t



Politics 

      'Little done to end
      logging problems'

      Academics yesterday criticised the
      government for ''doing too little too late'' in
      addressing the massive illegal logging
      problems at the Salween National Park and
      Salween Wildlife Sanctuary. 

      Dr Somsak Sukwong, director of Regional
      Community Forestry Training Centre
      (RECOFTC), said illegal logging had been
      going on in Mae Hong Son province for
      over a decade and a large portion of the
      forest could have been saved if the logging
      had been suppressed earlier. 

      Somsak said that the present attempt by
      the government to identify wrongdoers
      would help to partly solve the problem, but
      added that the government would have to
      do more than just rely on the Royal Forestry
      Department if it seriously intends to protect
      the forests. 

      ''Identifying officials who are involved in the
      operations and moving them is a short-term
      solution. The new officials could be as
      corrupt as the earlier ones and the
      problems could begin again,'' he said. 

      The expert suggested that the government
      embrace the concept of forest protection by
      communities of forest dwellers and those
      who make use of forest products by
      passing the Community Forest Bill at the
      earliest. 

      He added that the rapid loss of the forest
      area in the country each year showed that
      the Royal Forestry Department was not
      capable of protecting the forests. 

      Thongroj Onchant, president of the Thailand
      Environment Institute, supported Somsak,
      saying that the bill would promote public
      participation in natural resources protection
      which was in accordance with the
      Constitution. 

      BY PENNAPA HONGTHONG 

      The Nation