Suchart Distributes Identification Documents to Mangrove Forest Residents in Chanthaburi, Advances Land and Livelihood Problem Resolution
Thailand's environment minister distributed ID documents and land permits to 59 households in Chanthaburi's mangrove forests, legalizing their residency and livelihoods while supporting conservation through integrated zone management.
On May 10, 2026, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin chaired a ceremony distributing identification documents to 59 households covering 646 rai 69 square wah of mangrove forest land in Chanthaburi province. The initiative, approved by Cabinet resolution on November 26, 2018, addresses housing and livelihood issues while balancing resource conservation through an integrated zone management approach known as "Train No. 5," the government's policy initiative to ensure housing and employment security while protecting natural resources.
The event included issuance of residence and livelihood certificates under National Park and Wildlife Protection Acts, as well as forest usage permits from the Royal-Initiated Kung Krabaen Bay Study and Development Center project. Officials, including Chanthaburi Governor Montsit Paisalthanavatana and district chiefs, acknowledged this mangrove area as a crucial model for land management, particularly given Chanthaburi's importance as an aquaculture center in Eastern Thailand, especially for pearl oyster farming, demonstrating balanced resource utilization that can be replicated elsewhere.
Minister Suchart stressed that today's identification documents represent a significant step in concrete problem resolution, enabling residents to legally reside and work while properly utilizing land without harming natural resources. He emphasized the documents symbolize cooperation between government and communities to collectively protect mangrove forests for future generations. Mangrove ecosystems hold critical importance for economy, society, and environment—serving as aquatic nurseries, preventing coastal erosion, and absorbing greenhouse gases as "blue carbon," contributing to Thailand's Net Zero emissions target. Community participation in balanced mangrove management, restoration, and utilization will ensure sustainability for both natural resources and residents' quality of life.
