Forestry officials at the Royal Forestry Department (RFD) have been told to widen their duties beyond protecting trees and wildlife to assisting forest dwellers.

ENVIRONMENT Minister General Surasak Kanchanarat yesterday dismissed fresh calls from some forest community representatives for the utilisation of pristine forests excluded from the latest forestland survey and demarcation, arguing that possible changes in the modest way of living of forest dwellers could affect the forest ecosystem.