Pushing Doi Inthanon for ASEAN Heritage Park Status

Thairath•Politics•1d ago

Reader Briefing

The Thai government is pushing for Doi Inthanon National Park to be certified as an ASEAN Heritage Park.

•The government is seeking ASEAN Heritage Park certification for Doi Inthanon National Park in Chiang Mai Province.
•Experts from the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) are scheduled to evaluate the area from September 16–18, 2026.
•Doi Inthanon National Park features 89.5% natural forest and is the highest peak in Thailand at 2,565 meters.

•The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has presented the proposal to the Cabinet after approval from the National Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization Committee in May.
•Experts from the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) will conduct an on-site assessment of Doi Inthanon National Park between September 16–18, 2026.
•Doi Inthanon National Park covers over 296,922 rai across Chom Thong, Mae Chaem, Mae Wang, and Doi Lo districts of Chiang Mai.
•89.5% of the total area is natural forest, and 40.48% is classified as Class 1 watershed area requiring strict protection.
•Doi Inthanon is a critical headwater for the Ping River in the Chao Phraya River basin, producing over 540 million cubic meters of water annually for 35 villages and 74 communities.
•The area supports at least 1,271 plant species and over 393 wildlife species, including rare animals like goral, serow, and white-handed gibbons.
•Official certification as Thailand's 11th ASEAN Heritage Park would enable knowledge exchange and concrete environmental cooperation within the ASEAN region.
•Lalida Periswiwattana stated that Doi Inthanon serves as both a famous tourist destination and a carbon sink where communities coexist with nature.

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Lalida Periswiwattana(ลลิดา เพริศวิวัฒนา)

Deputy Government Spokesperson who disclosed the government's progress in pushing for Doi Inthanon's certification.

Doi Inthanon National Park(อุทยานแห่งชาติดอยอินทนนท์)ℹ️

A national park in Chiang Mai Province being proposed as an ASEAN Heritage Park.

Chiang Mai Province(จังหวัดเชียงใหม่)ℹ️

The province where Doi Inthanon National Park is located.

Chom Thong(จอมทอง)

One of the four districts in Chiang Mai covered by Doi Inthanon National Park.

Mae Chaem(แม่แจ่ม)ℹ️

One of the four districts in Chiang Mai covered by Doi Inthanon National Park.

Mae Wang(แม่วาง)ℹ️

One of the four districts in Chiang Mai covered by Doi Inthanon National Park.

Doi Lo(ดอยหล่อ)ℹ️

One of the four districts in Chiang Mai covered by Doi Inthanon National Park.

Ping River(แม่น้ำปิง)ℹ️

The river for which Doi Inthanon is a critical headwater source.

Chao Phraya River Basin(ลุ่มน้ำเจ้าพระยา)

The river basin system to which the Ping River belongs.

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment(กระทรวงทรัพยากรธรรมชาติและสิ่งแวดล้อม)ℹ️

The ministry that presented the proposal for the park's certification to the Cabinet.

National Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization Committee(คณะกรรมการอนุรักษ์และใช้ประโยชน์ความหลากหลายทางชีวภาพแห่งชาติ)

The committee that resolved to approve the proposal in May.

ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity(ศูนย์อาเซียนว่าด้วยความหลากหลายทางชีวภาพ)ℹ️

The organization whose experts are scheduled to evaluate Doi Inthanon National Park.