Phuket â
Thailandâs Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Sukhumbhand Chomklin, has directed the Department of Forestry to press ahead with strict enforcement against forest encroachment in Phuket, rejecting appeals from investors accused of illegally occupying protected land.
The case centers on the Naka Kerd mountain range near Nui Beach, where private groups constructed 39 structures within the boundaries of a national reserved forest. The Department of Forestry had earlier issued an administrative order under Section 25 of the National Reserved Forest Act (1964), requiring the occupants to vacate and dismantle all buildings by July 9, 2026.
Although the landholders filed an appeal, both the Forestry Department and the Minister ruled that the claims were unfounded. The Minister stated that the governmentâs policy is to restore encroached forest areas nationwide, particularly in high-value tourism zones, to safeguard natural resources for future generations.
On July 17, Forestry officials, together with local police and district officers, formally delivered the decision to representatives of the landholders at the site. The notice clarified that while the appeal process has been exhausted, the occupants retain the right to challenge the ruling in the Administrative Court within 90 days.
