PUBLISHED: 9 May 2025 at 03: 30
Due to concerns that the proposed design of a cable car system in Loei province’s Phu Kradueng National Park may harm the area’s fragile ecosystem, the Seub Nakhasathien Foundation has voiced its criticism.
The base also raised questions about the program’s cost-effectiveness in a public speech.
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation ( DNP ), which approved a two-year extension for further feasibility studies and environmental impact assessments ( EIA ) for the project, recently issued the response to the opposition.
At a cost of 25.7 million baht, the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration ( Dasta ) has been given the task of creating the project design, which also includes carrying out an EIA and a project feasibility study.
The proposed 3 km cable car course, according to DNP director-general Atthapol Charoenchansa, may start at Ga Mak Dook next week. The second phase will improve services and the first step could charge up to one billion ringgit.
Additionally, the DNP intends to introduce electrical wagons to the park’s visitors.
Even if the electrical vehicle plan is merely a proposal, the foundation argued, adding that the addition of tourist infrastructure would unavoidably come after the cable car was constructed.
Additionally, the speech from the foundation questioned the cord car’s overall contribution to the local economy.
The foundation also questioned whether the DNP could govern visitor numbers and successfully manage the page without harming the fragile ecosystem because increased access is likely to increase foot traffic.
The base stated that Phuket Kradueng is not only the country’s next designated national area but that it also received an Asean Heritage Park in 2023. ” This region is home to rare flora and over 98 % of the area is still covered by natural forest. Additionally, it is home to numerous threatened and endangered species, including white-tailed gibbons, Javan pangolins, bright tortoises, darker leaves monkeys, and serows.
The base argued that any advancement that didn’t prioritize the area’s natural integrity might harm its conservation value.
According to the foundation, for degradation could compromise its national park status in the long run and potentially open the door to revocation under the pretext of growth.