BANGKOK, Thailand – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Suchart Chomklin has ordered an urgent investigation into illegal road construction and deforestation within the Mae Yuam Fang Khwa and Salawin Wildlife Sanctuaries in Mae Hong Son province.
On February 23, 2026, Police Major General Nanthachart Suphamongkhon, Advisor to the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, and Athapol Charoenshunsa, Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), inspected the affected sites with relevant officials. The investigation followed reports of unauthorized road construction covering 6.6 kilometers in the Mae Yuam Fang Khwa Wildlife Sanctuary and 1.278 kilometers in the Salawin Wildlife Sanctuary.
At a fact-finding meeting at Mae La Luang Police Station, officials from the DNP, the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), local police, the military, and the administrative sector met with community leaders to collect evidence. The DNP Director-General confirmed that the construction, which involved expanding old trails into vehicle-accessible roads, lacked the required permits.
The DNP has begun disciplinary and legal proceedings against all involved parties. Authorities have been directed to collect evidence for prosecution, close unauthorized routes, and start immediate forest restoration.
The Minister’s advisor stated that while legal action is a priority, the government is committed to fairness. Officials have been instructed to balance enforcement with public sentiment by engaging with local residents to understand their needs for infrastructure and environmental preservation. (NNT)
