Mae Wong National Park

Mae Wong National Park (Thai อุทยานแห่งชาติแม่วงก์) is a national park in Thailand. This park lies in Mae Wong and Mae Poen Districts of Nakhon Sawan Province and Pang Sila Thong District of Kamphaeng Phet Province, in the west of Thailand. It was declared a national park on 14 September 1987 as the 55th national park of Thailand.

Not to be confused with Mae Wang National Park.
Mae Wong National Park
อุทยานแห่งชาติแม่วงก์
IUCN category II (national park)
Khong Klung creek
Location within Thailand
LocationThailand
Nearest cityNakhon Sawan
Coordinates16°02′23″N 99°14′04″E
Area894 km²
Established1987

Description
The setting sun seen from the top of Mu Ko Chu mountain (1,964 m)

Mae Wong National Park is in the Dawna Range. The park is rugged and hilly along the Dawna Mountain Range, especially on the north and west. With the highest peak, Khao Mo Ko Chu at 1,964 m. above sea level it is one of highest mountain ranges in Thailand. Three main rivers, of which the Mae Wong River is the biggest, drain the park. Notable places in the park are Mae Krasa, Mae Rewa, Mae Ki Waterfalls, Mokochu Peak, and Chong Yen.[1]

History

Formerly, Mae Wong National Park was home to hill tribes including Hmong, Yao, Muzer (Lahu), and Karen.

Mae Wong Dam

On 10 April 2012 Thailand's cabinet approved the 13 billion baht Mae Wong Dam project in response to water shortages in the dry season and heavy floods in the wet season. Opponents of the project state that it will eliminate around 1,760 hectares (17.6 km2) of low-lying forest, and reduce the habitat for animals in the national park which covers 900 km2.[2][3] In July 2012 a case was filed at Central Administrative Court, against Yingluck Shinawatra, the cabinet, the director-general of the Royal Irrigation Department, and the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives.[4] On 22 September 2013 the Bangkok Post said that in Bangkok "Thousands of supporters turned out on Sunday to welcome the environmental campaigner Sasin Chalermlap, who arrived in Bangkok after a 388 kilometre walk to protest plans to build a dam in Mae Wong National Park".[5] Days later the Thai government announced that they will study a new alternative to the dam.[6] During a November 2013 hearing, locals reportedly supported the project and asked the government to pursue it.[7] On 23 September 2013, the Minister of Science and Technology stated that construction of the dam will push forward.[8]

In September 2016, plans to build the dam were revived by Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Chatchai Sarikulya. The minister has been reportedly seeking an order under Section 44 of the interim charter to press ahead with the project.[9][10]

References
  1. Elliot, Stephan; Cubitt, Gerald (2001). THE NATIONAL PARKS and other Wild Places of THAILAND. New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd. pp. 84–86. ISBN 9781859748862.
  2. "Last tiger sanctuary in SE Asia at risk". May 4, 2012. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013.
  3. "Benefits of Mae Wong Dam unlikely to outweigh environmental costs, IUCN report says". International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  4. PM, others sued over Mae Wong Dam
  5. Big reception for Mae Wong marchers
  6. "Government ditches Mae Wong dam plan". Bangkok Post. 26 September 2013.
  7. "Hearing backs Mae Wong dam". Bangkok Post. 5 November 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  8. Plodprasop defiant on Mae Wong dam
  9. Glahan, Surasak (6 September 2016). "Regime risks Mae Wong backlash". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  10. "Chatchai intent on using S44 for dam". Bangkok Post. 6 September 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
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