Thailand struggles with land distribution and forest conservation

Thailand is working to solve landlessness among its people by allocating forest land. This effort has been ongoing for many years and involves giving land to those in need. However, many of these recipients do not have legal rights to the land, as it is classified as state-owned. This creates a conflict between land distribution and environmental protection. The government began addressing land issues more seriously in 1975 with the Agricultural Land Reform Act. This law aimed to help poor farmers. Since then, millions of rai of forest land have been distributed. However, illegal transactions still occur, with many recipients selling their land to outsiders. This causes further damage to forests and reduces the amount of fertile land available. In 2021, the previous government formed the National Land Policy Committee (NLPC) to manage land allocation. They introduced a community-based model to prevent illegal sales. Instead of individual ownership, local organizations keep a list of eligible recipients. This was intended to help maintain collective land rights. Despite these efforts, illegal land sales continue to be a problem. Reports show that in Chachoengsao province, over 143 rai of land has been unlawfully transferred. In Chanthaburi province, 46 rai face similar issues. Local complaints have revealed weaknesses in enforcement. Many sales are happening through social media, which could lead to an even larger problem without proper measures in place. The NLPC is aware of these illegal transactions but has not provided specific actions to resolve them. Rawiwan Phuridej, the director of NLPC, mentioned that legal actions will be taken against those involved. However, it appears that the NLPC is not supervising land usage closely, which raises concerns. To improve oversight, the NLPC is developing a data management system called “Platform Sphere.” This system will use satellite technology to track land use, ensuring that agricultural products are not sourced from forest areas. But this system is yet to be implemented in the forests managed by another department. Currently, the NLPC oversees about 4.1 million rai of land, with some already distributed. Other departments also plan to allocate more land. While there is a lot of land available for distribution, problems with illegal sales and deforestation persist. Illegal land sales are becoming more profitable, particularly in mountainous areas. Prices for land near water sources can be very high. Some land is falsely presented as part of the National Land Policy, attracting buyers. In some cases, local officials may overlook these transactions. Thailand must act to prevent further illegal land transfers. The government needs strict inspections and law enforcement to stop both sellers and buyers of illegal land. All parties, including government agencies and environmental organizations, should work together. With climate change challenges and the need for forest conservation, decisive actions are essential to protect Thailand's forests for future generations.