BANGKOK, 24 April 2015 – The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has presented its accomplishments over the past six months to the public, concentrating on solving various environmental problems in society.
General Dapong Rattanasuwan, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, presided at the session to deliver the ministry’s six-month progress report. He said one of the major tasks was the resolution of the smoke haze situation in the northern region early this year which posed serious dangers to residents’ health and disrupted air traffic due to poor visibility. The problem prompted the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry to integrate efforts with other related ministries and agencies to impose strict control on burning activities among the locals and extinguish forest fires.
Other duties included the formulation of a strategy on the management of garbage and hazardous waste, land allocation to the poor and the landless, prevention and suppression of forest encroachment, issuance of permits for proper use of forestland, eradication of the illegal logging of Siamese rosewood and other rare wood species, and introduction of 13 mobile applications publicizing information on natural resources and environment.
Another important agenda was the clampdown on illegal ivory trade in compliance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Laws and regulations were issued for more effective control of ivory trade while people who had ivory in their possession were legally obligated to register the items.
