Rangers armed with shotguns
THE MINISTRY of Natural Resources and Environment is buying almost 4,000 more shotguns for its forest rangers to protect the country’s remaining rosewood trees and forest reserves.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Surasak Kanjanarat said 3,385 8-gauge shotguns worth Bt142 million would be bought for the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, and another 445 shotguns worth Bt10 million for the Royal Forest Department.
The guns are priced at an average of Bt40,000 each.
General Surasak was speaking on the sidelines of an international meeting on illegal rosewood logging and trade hosted by Thailand at the Maruay Garden Hotel in Bangkok.
The meeting, chaired by Surasak, was also attended by representatives from China, Vietnam and Cambodia.
Surasak said illegal logging of rosewood remained prevalent despite suppression by the authorities.
