Deputy Permanent Secretary Leads Biodiversity Committee to Push Doi Inthanon National Park as Thailand's 11th ASEAN Heritage Park
Thailand's biodiversity committee approved a draft Biodiversity Act and endorsed nominating Doi Inthanon National Park as the country's 11th ASEAN Heritage Park, pending Cabinet approval.
Deputy Permanent Secretary Raveevan Phuridej of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment chaired the second 2026 meeting of the National Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization Committee (NBCUC), following an assignment from Natural Resources Minister Suchati Chomklin. The committee included over 60 experts and officials serving as vice chairs and secretariat members.
The NBCUC approved a draft Biodiversity Act to be submitted to the Cabinet for consideration as comprehensive legislation for managing the country's biodiversity. It also endorsed nominating Doi Inthanon National Park as Thailand's 11th ASEAN Heritage Park, tasking the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation with Cabinet approval before forwarding to the ASEAN Centre on Biodiversity for processing through ASEAN mechanisms.
Additionally, the committee approved a registry and measures to prevent, control, and eliminate 31 invasive alien species, including high-priority species. The committee provided recommendations on the Bangkachaojao Biodiversity Learning Area project to promote education, tourism, and bioeconomy development at the local level. It also approved restructuring four sub-committees under the NBCUC to implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework for concrete results.
