Cabinet approves new forest land use regulations

Matichon•Politics•19d ago

Reader Briefing

The Cabinet has approved the principle of a draft ministerial regulation to modernize forest land use permissions and expand eligible activities.

•The Cabinet approved the draft ministerial regulation on forest land use permission as proposed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
•The number of permissible land-use activity types has been increased from 10 to 16.
•Permit durations for certain activities, including agriculture and conservation recreation, have been extended from 10 to 30 years.
•Applicants can now submit requests via an electronic system.

Overview

•The Cabinet approved the principle of the draft Ministerial Regulation on Requesting Permission and Granting Permission for Benefit in Forest Areas B.E. ...
•The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment proposed the change to align regulations with current land use and activities and to streamline the application process.
•The draft regulation increases the types of permissible activities from 10 to 16, adding categories such as renewable energy, telecommunications, and waste management.
•The draft regulation extends the permit duration for agriculture, conservation recreation, and wildlife breeding from a maximum of 10 years to 30 years.
•Permissions will not be granted in National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, conserved mangrove forests, or community forests.
•The regulation removes fees for application forms, permits, renewals, transfers, and substitute permits.
•Legal public hearings showed that 84.78 percent of respondents agreed with the draft regulation.
•The Office of the Council of State confirmed the Cabinet can approve the principles before it enters the legal process.

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Source: Matichon (Original)

Key Quotes

Lalida Periswiwatana

"This ministerial regulation adjustment does not mean opening forest areas for use without restrictions, but is an adjustment of the permit system to support actual activities, with clearer criteria and reduced unnecessary steps."

การปรับกฎกระทรวงครั้งนี้ไม่ได้หมายถึงการเปิดพื้นที่ป่าให้สามารถนำไปใช้ประโยชน์ได้โดยไม่มีข้อจำกัด แต่เป็นการปรับระบบการอนุญาตให้รองรับกิจกรรมที่เกิดขึ้นจริง มีหลักเกณฑ์ชัดเจนขึ้น และลดขั้นตอนที่ไม่จำเป็น

Key Entities

Person

Lalida Periswiwatana(ลลิดา เพริศวิวัฒนา)

Deputy Government Spokesperson who disclosed the Cabinet's decision.

Organization

Cabinet(คณะรัฐมนตรี)

The government body that approved the principles of the draft ministerial regulation.

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment(กระทรวงทรัพยากรธรรมชาติและสิ่งแวดล้อม)ℹ️

The ministry that proposed the draft ministerial regulation to the Cabinet.

Royal Forest Department(กรมป่าไม้)ℹ️

The department for which welfare arrangements are one of the 16 permitted activity types.

Office of the Council of State(สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา)ℹ️

The body that opined that the Cabinet could approve the principles of the draft regulation.

Place

Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai Campus(มหาวิทยาลัยสงขลานครินทร์ วิทยาเขตหาดใหญ่)

The location where the announcement was made on September 1.

Law

Draft Ministerial Regulation on Requesting Permission and Granting Permission for Benefit in Forest Areas B.E. ...(ร่างกฎกระทรวงการขออนุญาตและการอนุญาตทำประโยชน์ในเขตป่า พ.ศ. ...)

The draft regulation approved by the Cabinet to update forest land use rules.