Backlash against forest amnesty bill

Critics warn giveaway risks environmental, legal fallout, writes Apinya Wipatayotin

- Apinya Wipatayotin

For decades, the promise of land ownership has been a mainstay in Thai politics.

Parties have long relied on policies allocating forest land to the poor to boost their popularity. Despite the shrinking amount of forested land, there has always been political will to convert it into private ownership to secure rural political support.

At present, only 101.82 million rai of forest land remains, accounting for 31.47% of the total land area. In 2023-2024 alone, 317,819.20 rai of forest land disappeared — the fastest rate in 30 years — says the Seub Nakhasathien Foundation, a conservation group that also monitors forest encroachment and related legal action.

However, disputes have persisted for decades over whether local communities who have relied on forest land for generations — often before it was designated as protected — should be considered encroachers.

Since the introduction of state-imposed forest boundaries, protected areas and community land have increasingly overlapped, leading to conflicts.

The amnesty bill proposed by the People’s Party and the Prachachat Party aims to resolve these disputes by granting land rights to those living on forest land.

Critics, however, argue the bill amounts to little more than whitewashing forest encroachment.

Under the bill, those living on the land would no longer be classified as illegal encroachers and would be entitled to land deeds guaranteeing their rights.