Senior Thai officials to confer on reforestation

BANGKOK, February 26 (TNA) - Senior government officials on Sunday afternoon are scheduled to discuss plans on reforestation programmes as advised by Thailand’s His Majesty the King last week to help tackle flood problem, said Chote Trachu, permanent secretary for Natural Resources and Environment. He said Minister Preecha Rengsomboonsuk had ordered Damrong Phidej, director-general of National Parks, Wildlife and Flora Department, and Royal Forest Department director-general Suwit Rattanamanee to urgently attend the meeting on reforestation and on illegal trees cutting. Discussions will focus on whether the two departments are encountering personnel or budget problems to proceed on the programmes. The urgent meeting is being held after His Majesty the King last Friday advised Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and senior officials of the Strategic Committee for Water Resources Management to conserve forests and ways to speed up the draining of water into the sea as they could help tackle the flood problem. Miss Yingluck and the officials had an audience with the King to present a government report on water management and flood prevention plans in a bid to avert flood crisis from repetition this year. On Monday, the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry will host a meeting of senior officers at the Royal Forest Department. Miss Yingluck will chair the meeting which will discuss plans to improve forestry areas. Mr. Damrong said he would call a meeting of field officers based throughout the country next week and would ask them to prepare 80 million sprouts or young trees, which will later be planted at water upstream areas nationwide. (TNA)