The government is pushing to designate Doi Inthanon as an ASEAN Heritage Site, highlighting its 89.5% natural forest cover, its role as a water source, and its importance as a regional biodiversity hotspot.
On 15 September 2026, Ms. Lalida Pertwittaya, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, revealed the government's efforts to expedite the designation of Doi Inthanon National Park in Chiang Mai Province as an “ASEAN Heritage Park.” This initiative aims to elevate standards for natural resource conservation, biodiversity, and to promote ecotourism alongside sustainable community economic development. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has already presented this proposal to the Cabinet.
Following the National Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization Committee’s approval in May, experts from the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) are scheduled to conduct an on-site evaluation of Doi Inthanon National Park from 16–18 September 2026. Their findings will then be forwarded for consideration by the relevant ASEAN committee in due course.
Doi Inthanon National Park is an ecologically significant forest area covering over 296,922 rai across four districts in Chiang Mai: Chom Thong, Mae Chaem, Mae Wang, and Doi Lo. Natural forest accounts for 89.5% of the total area, with more than 40.48% classified as first-class watershed zones requiring strict protection. Additionally, Doi Inthanon features Thailand’s highest peak at 2,565 meters above sea level and is a crucial source of the Ping River within the Chao Phraya watershed, supplying over 540 million cubic meters of water annually to 35 villages and 74 communities both inside and outside the park.
Regarding biodiversity, Doi Inthanon is home to at least 1,271 plant species and more than 393 wildlife species, including rare and endangered animals such as the serow, goral, and white-handed gibbon. It also serves as a migratory bird flyway and is the site where 21 new lichen species have been discovered. The Deputy Spokesperson emphasized that Doi Inthanon is not only a renowned tourist destination but also an important carbon sink and a place where communities have long coexisted with nature. Official recognition as Thailand’s 11th ASEAN Heritage Park would open opportunities for knowledge exchange and strengthen regional environmental cooperation within ASEAN.