Thailand Rejects Appeal in Phuket Forest Encroachment Case, Orders Illegal Structures Removed

Thailand's Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Sukhumbhand Chomklin, has instructed the Department of Forestry to continue taking firm action against illegal occupation of protected forest land in Phuket after rejecting an appeal submitted by investors accused of encroachment.

The dispute involves an area within the Naka Kerd mountain range, close to Nui Beach, where authorities say private investors built 39 structures inside a national reserved forest.

Earlier, the Department of Forestry issued an administrative order under Section 25 of the National Reserved Forest Act (1964), requiring those occupying the land to vacate the area and remove all buildings by July 9, 2026.

Although the landholders appealed the decision, both the Forestry Department and the minister concluded that the arguments presented did not justify overturning the order.

According to the minister, the government remains committed to reclaiming illegally occupied forest land throughout the country, with particular attention given to environmentally sensitive and high-value tourism destinations in order to preserve natural resources for future generations.

On July 17, officials from the Department of Forestry, accompanied by local police and district authorities, formally delivered the final decision to representatives of the landholders at the disputed site.

Authorities also informed the occupants that, while the administrative appeal process has now been completed, they still have the right to file a case with the Administrative Court within 90 days if they wish to challenge the ruling.