The government is advancing the "New Beginning for Thap Lan" initiative to address land use conflicts and forest conservation in a balanced way, adhering to the law, empirical evidence, and fairness, while expediting rights verification for 5,200 households. It warns that those breaking the law will face prosecution.
18 Jun 2026 GMT+7 Ms. Lalida Pherdwiwatana, Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office, revealed that the government under the leadership of Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul prioritizes resolving land use issues and natural resource conservation in a balanced manner. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) is pushing forward the "New Beginning for Thap Lan" approach to solve longstanding conflicts between indigenous communities and conservation areas accumulated over decades. The key principle is to adhere to the law, factual evidence, empirical data, transparency, and accountability.
The government spokesperson added that this approach follows the Cabinet resolution on 14 March 2023, which mandates using the One Map system as a vital tool to systematically organize state land boundaries, reducing overlapping land issues and balancing natural resource conservation with residents' rights to live and cultivate land.
Initially, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will focus on three main tasks: adjusting boundaries using accurate spatial data, verifying indigenous peoples' rights, and strictly enforcing laws against forest encroachers and investors.
Regarding rights verification, the ministry will expedite reviewing approximately 5,200 indigenous households' claims, completing the process within six months. This is under Section 64 of the National Park Act B.E. 2562 (2019), using aerial photographs and scientific evidence to ensure those residing and cultivating land before the national park declaration receive lawful recognition.
Simultaneously, the government affirms there will be no amnesty for illegal acts and no rights recognition for forest encroachers, including hundreds of resorts, hotels, and operators currently undergoing legal proceedings. All cases will continue through full legal processes.
Ms. Lalida further explained that organizing the land based on the 2000 boundaries, covering about 260,000 rai, will be conducted fairly and factually by dividing the land into two main categories:
The first category includes about 155,000 rai to be handed over to agencies and communities with lawful rights, comprising approximately 53,000 rai overlapping with the Agricultural Land Reform Office (ALRO) areas, 8,300 rai for Thai Samakkhi village, about 84,000 rai for security villages and government land allocation projects, and around 6,500 rai of state property, all previously recognized under past Cabinet resolutions.
The second category involves about 109,000 rai under strict scrutiny, especially areas outside ALRO and security villages, with no rights recognition for encroachers and strict legal measures against violators.
However, this action does not reduce conservation forest areas but enhances natural resource protection. The government plans to reclassify about 89,000 rai of pristine forest from the Forestry Department's jurisdiction into Thap Lan National Park to serve as a buffer zone and strengthen ecosystem integrity long-term.
"The government emphasizes that resolving Thap Lan's issues is not a choice between people and forests but organizing land based on law and facts to ensure rightful fairness for residents while sustainably preserving the country's forest and natural resources. Those breaking the law will be prosecuted without exception," she concluded.