Clearing or cutting trees on your Koh Phangan plot: what the 2019 Forest Act amendment changed

Can I cut down trees on my Koh Phangan land? On land with recognised ownership papers, generally yes under the Forest Act, but the answer depends on what your document actually is, and clearing for a build is separately regulated. This is general information, not legal advice.

What changed in 2019

Before 2019, Section 7 of the Forest Act B.E. 2484 (1941) kept a list of valuable species, including teak, rubber, chingchan and phayung rosewood, under state regulation even when growing on private land, so owners needed permission to cut, move or sell them. Reports on the Forest Act (No. 8) B.E. 2562 (2019) describe Section 7 as revised so that 158 formerly reserved species plus 13 rare species can be felled, transported and traded by owners without formal permission. Older compliance guides still describe permits for teak and rosewood on private land, so check which version a source reflects.

Which land documents qualify

• Title deed (Chanote), Nor Sor 3 and Sor Kor 1 are the documents reported as qualifying. Some sources also list Nor Sor 3 Gor and Nor Sor 2.
• No qualifying document, no exemption — land held only on an informal tax receipt or occupation basis falls outside the rule. See land titles: Chanote vs Nor Sor 3.
• Forest and state land — in National Reserved Forest, all harvesting needs permission, and timber on state forest land belongs to the state. See illegal construction and the forest reserve crackdown.

What the exemption does not cover

• Clearing for construction — felling is not building approval. Hillside, coastal and zoning limits still apply; see hillside and slope limits and coastal setbacks.
• Earthworks and drainage — heavy clearing on a slope can damage neighbours; see neighbouring properties law and flood and drainage diligence.
• Large projects — see environmental impact assessment.
• Transport and trade — rules on moving timber off the island were not verified here; ask the Forestry Department.

Practical checks for buyers

• Verify the boundary — a title-deed plot adjoining forest means cutting past your line is encroachment; see boundary resurvey.
• Check the document type before you clear — a Sor Kor 1 plot can carry other risks; see Sor Kor 1 adjudication.
• Tree-covered plots — if a plot looks suspiciously forested, confirm it is not forest land; see the due diligence checklist.

In short: the 2019 change removed the special permit for valuable species on titled land, not the wider limits on forest land, slopes and building. Confirm the current rule with the provincial forestry office and a Thai lawyer.