Thailand Orders Investigation Into Peat Swamp Encroachment
Natural Resources Minister orders strict legal action against capitalists clearing and encroaching on Khuan Kreng peat swamp in Nakhon Si Thammarat.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Minister of Natural Resources orders crackdown on Khuan Kreng peat swamp fire and encroachment
- Authorities discover 3 illegal oil palm plots spanning 140 rai in Nakhon Si Thammarat
- Deployment of 250 personnel to patrol the area 24/7 to prevent renewed blazes
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has intensified its crackdown on illegal burning and land encroachment in protected areas. On August 20, 2026, Minister Suchart Chomklin urgently instructed the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation to collaborate with relevant agencies, gather evidence, and take strict legal action against those who set fires and illegally occupied land in the Khuan Kreng peat swamp located in Cha-uat district, Nakhon Si Thammarat province.
This decisive order follows a series of wildfires that erupted between August 13 and 17, 2026, destroying over 1,527 rai of forest land. Although authorities have successfully brought the blazes under control and report no active fire points, the ministry's mission remains ongoing. Officials have been instructed to thoroughly investigate plots in and around the affected areas, prosecute anyone found deliberately clearing land for expansion, and maintain continuous patrols in high-risk zones.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Athapol Charoenshansa, Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, detailed the latest operational updates. Joint patrols by the Forest Fire Control Division and Protected Area Regional Office 5 (Nakhon Si Thammarat) in Tambon Kreng discovered three suspicious land plots newly cleared and planted with oil palms, covering a total area of approximately 140 rai.
"Deploying 250 personnel to the area to monitor against the reignition of peat swamp fires from previous spots and watch for newly burned areas."
Athapol Charoenshansa
The intentional burning of peat swamps to clear land for agricultural ventures such as oil palm plantations represents a severe threat to Thailand's delicate ecosystems. Because peat swamps are exceptionally difficult to restore once damaged, strict enforcement of land rights and continuous ground monitoring are critical strategies to deter illegal encroachment by commercial interests.
Moving forward, the Department of National Parks will accelerate rights verification and evidence collection for all three suspect plots to ensure strict prosecution without exception. Concurrently, officials are pushing forward with ecological restoration efforts at Khuan Kreng, backed by 250 rangers maintaining round-the-clock patrols to safeguard natural resources for the long term.
Source: Khaosod Politics
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