Thailand seriously copes with illegal ivory and rosewood trade

BANGKOK, July 22 (TNA) - The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, under the Thai Ministry of National Resources and Environment, will propose legal amendments concerning ivory trade to the army-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to protect Thailand from trade barriers on the world market. The department's director-general, Niphon Chotibal, told journalists on Tuesday that the management of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) resolved in its 65th meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, for Thailand to effectively control local ivory trade and his department is ready to take immediate actions to positively respond to the CITES resolution. Niphon said that, as part of the actions, his department will soon propose to the NCPO to include African elephants in the list of protected wild animals under Thailand's Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act B.E. 2535 (1992), the legal amendment of which will enhance capabilities of concerned officials in taking legal actions against wrongdoers. Niphon acknowledged that his department will also propose a law to control the possession and trade of local ivory, pointing out that such legal measures should save Thailand from being banned from trading animals and plants permitted under CITES, including orchids, aloeswood, ornamental plants, crocodile skins, parrots, insects and snake skins. According to the senior official, if banned, it would cause Thailand economic damage worth tens of billions of baht. In another development, the NCPO has included rosewood in the list of protected wood, on which owners of rosewood must seek an official permission before felling a rosewood tree or transporting it. Legal punishment against wrongdoers is also increased by 10 times to a fine of 50,000-2 million baht and/or a jail term of 1-20 years. Meanwhile, a committee on the promotion of green industries under the Ministry of Industry has certified three Thai companies for being the best in green industries. The certified Thai firms include Siam Cement Lamphang Co, Siam City Cement Public Company Limited and Map Ta Phut Olefins Co., as they have been proven to maintain the “Green Culture” acceptable to local communities and consumers and to create balance between local economic, social and environmental dimensions, which are key to national sustainable development. (TNA)