Five New National Parks for Thailand

Thailand has added five new national parks around the country between 2016 and 2019, the new parks part of a 20-Year National Strategic Plan, which aims to increase the kingdom’s forest area to 55% of the entire country by 2037.

There are currently 133 national parks in Thailand with Khao Yai National park being the country’s first (established 1962) and Tham Sa Koen National Park in Nan being the last to be established during the reign of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. During the reign of King Rama X (2016 to present), Thailand has already added five new parks:

Namtok Chet Sao Noi National Park

Added December 2016, Namtok Chet Sao Noi National Park has a scenic waterfall with an interesting past. The name of the waterfall comes from a story about the people in the area. Long ago, seven women drowned together in the waterfall. Another story tells that it comes from a village named Ban Sao Noi and later renamed to Chet Sao Noi. The Park covers a total area of 40.89 square kilometres covering Muak Lek and Wang Muang districts in Saraburi province and Pak Chong district in Nakhon Ratchasima province.

Khun Sathan National Park

Added March, 2017, Khun Sathan National Park covers an area of 404.52 square kilometres in the districts of Na Noi and Na Muen of Nan province. The mountain ridge of Doi Phrae Mueang separates the boundaries between Phrae and Nan provinces while Doi Ku Sathan is 1,630 metres above mean sea level.

Mae Takhrai National Park

Added December, 2017, Mae Takhrai National Park covers an area of 356.66 square kilometres in San Kamphaeng, Doi Saket and Mae On districts of Chiang Mai province along with Ban Thi and Mueang districts of Lamphun. The Park is origin to the main tributaries of the Ping River, and offers scenic views; such as, waterfalls, cliffs and hot springs.

Than Sadet-Ko Phangan National Park

Added November, 2018, Than Sadet-Ko Phangan National Park is situated on Ko Phangan, an island 100 kilometres off the Surat Thani coast and occupies a total area of 44.99 square kilometres. The Park has maintained the wilderness of the island on its rugged and steep mountain range. Khao Ra is the highest peak at an elevation of 627 metres.

Doi Chong National Park

Added April 2019, Doi Chong National Park covers an area of 346.18 square kilometres in Sop Prap, Thoen and Mae Phrik districts of Lampang province and Li and Thung Hua Chang districts of Lamphun province. The Park offers mountainous areas and a range of deciduous forests. The highest point, Doi Jong is 1,379 metres above mean sea level.

With these five new parks, Thailand added a total of 331,952 rai (53,120 hectares) in additional forest area to its national park system. This brings the total forested area in Thailand to over 102,488 million rai, representing 31.68% of all area nationwide.

Another 22 national parks are in the process of being established, including 11 on land and 11 marine national parks, totalling 44 million rai or 13% of all area nationwide.