Management of Doi Suthep-Pui National Park – Power to promote Mae Hia – Green City of Recreation

Discussion with Panuwat Pewlamol, Assistant Chief of Doi Suthep-Pui National Park and active forestry academic

Q: Because some parts of Mae Hia Municipality are also part of Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, how should the area be cared for, especially nature management between occupied and forested areas?

“The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has a policy that a national park management plan for 2023 – 2027 should be created for Doi Suthep, as well as all other national parks. Meetings have already been held with invited relevant parties to brainstorm and form an action plan. Now, we are in the process of providing information about the National Park Service to the public sector, who didn’t attend the stakeholder meeting, so that they may comment or suggest various projects for the park, including the matter of management area division (zoning) according to Section 65, which concerns area management and organization of recreational activities such as hiking, running, trail running, or other activities which are promoted in various recreational areas”.

“For the park itself, there are missions in many aspects: (1) area conservation and rehabilitation; (2) recreation and academic projects; (3) education and research projects. Another mission is to engage with various communities in the rehabilitation area via a survey about the park, distributed by the Department of National Parks, regarding which tourist attraction areas should be open or closed at certain times each year. Due to the fragility of Doi Suthep-Pui, the park is open for 6 months then closed for 6 months. Some areas are closed only during rainy season, while others are open year-long, such as the camping sites at Ban Suan Son, Monthan Waterfall, Mae Sa Waterfall, Mok Fa Waterfall, Tat Mok Waterfall, etc”.

Q: Regarding trekking and trail running activities in the national park area, how does the management process, before and after, reduce the impact of activities on the area?

“Concerning trail running activities in the Doi Suthep-Pui National Park area, more than 10 trail running events each year have been granted permission to organize, subsequent to procedures to obtain permission from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. Recently, a letter was distributed by the Department of National Parks inviting entrepreneurs and event organizers to discuss practical guidelines, procedures and various criteria for requesting permission to organize activities, as the details of the criterion must be mutually understood. For example, a request for permission to organize activities in the recreation and services area must be presented to a meeting between the National Park Advisory Committee, chaired by the Provincial Governor, in order to seek opinions regarding activities in the park, which must first be approved by the committee at a preliminary meeting”.

“In terms of area management, during activities, the park arranges for staff attendance at designated points to ensure the safety of runners first and foremost. The event organizers provide clear indicators in the form of colored ribbons for service points, water service points, and various primary medical service points. Photographs are taken before and after activities in the area and reported to the National Park Service and park staff, in order to assist inspection of the activity area and identify any changes, such as markings, damage, or various waste, which are recorded and submitted in a report to the National Park Office, made in accordance with National Park Service procedures”.

“In addition, the park coordinates closely with activity organizers and communities regarding community participation and how to bring income into the community, such as through community products and souvenirs for tourists. Additionally, trail running activities in community areas are organized and coordinated together with community leaders, so that leaders may notify villagers in the area and put rest to any potential worry or panic, especially as trail runs sometimes also occur during the night, not only the day. The park coordinates with event organizers when activities are held within park boundaries for the entire duration of the activity, in order to avoid issues and negative effects on the area and community”.