Royal Forestry Department chief Chonlathit Surasawadee led a 200-strong team yesterday to seize land in Tambon Khao Samor in Phetchabun’s Khao Kho district from resort operators accused of encroaching on Khao Pok Lon national preserved forest.

In response to a policy by the Natural Resource and Environment Minister and an order by the National Council for Peace and Order to act against investors who encroach on forestland, Chonlathit said he had ordered RFD officials to inspect 970 suspect resorts and hotels nationwide.

He said the operation was expected to completed by September 30.

The seizure yesterday stemmed from work by the RFD's Phayak Prai unit in cooperation with the Internal Security Operations Command and related agencies since June 15. They inspected Khao Kho's head watershed forest, where there had been intrusion by tourist operators, Chonlathit explained.

Of the 58 places checked, officials found 20 plots covering 1,000 rai (160 hectares) were earmarked for resorts but investors did not have land-rights documents for the land.

Phayak Prai head Cheewaparp Cheewatham said the unit "seized" two of the plots on Friday.

Officials reclaim Khao Kho forest from resort operators - The Nation