Doi Inthanon National Park, home to Thailand’s highest mountain, has stressed the importance of following park rules after a group of visitors trespassed on a restricted area to take pictures, damaging the sphagnum moss that forms a delicate green carpets on the high-altitude mountain bog.
Park management said on Thursday it had taken legal action against 10 visitors, who reportedly wandered outside the designated path on the Ang Ka route, a short, misty boardwalk trail located at the very top of Doi Inthanon in Chiang Mai province.
The group of unidentified nationality walked beyond signs and barriers indicating restricted access on Sunday, park officials said.
A subsequent inspection found evidence of trampling on many spots within the cushion-like moss field, known locally as Khao Tok Ruesi.
According to the park, the plant is highly fragile and grows extremely slowly. Trampling can significantly affect its growth and recovery, potentially requiring many years for restoration. In some cases, the plant may never fully recover.
Khao Tok Ruesi is a rare species found only in pristine natural environments at over 2,000 metres above sea level, and is therefore an important natural resource that should be strictly protected and preserved. It is a highlight of the Ang Ka Trail Route.
Park officials reviewed information from photographs provided by the complainant, as well as CCTV footage, to collect evidence. A complaint alleging violations of the National Parks Act has been filed at the Chom Thong police station.
‘Doi Inthanon National Park asks all visitors to strictly comply with rules, regulations and instructions from park officials,’ it said in a post on Thursday.
‘Do not leave designated nature trails, do not trample plants or natural areas and do not enter areas marked with warning signs or barriers indicating restricted access.’
The park covers 296,922 rai across four Chiang Mai districts and is now being assessed by experts from the Asean Centre for Biodiversity as Thailand is seeking Asean Heritage Park status for the attraction.