On the 18 June 2020 the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment signed a Cave Protection Code. This has 16 points which are to be followed when visiting caves. The original order, in Thai, can be found at the Department of Mineral Resources website
https://drive.google.com/…/1Vi7S_sTNj2q_5PgCTvO1OYj2i…/view…
Below is an unofficial translation.
Please, direct any questions or comments to the Department of Mineral Resources.
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Notification by the National Cave Management Policy Committee
Subject: Cave Protection Practice
Caves are an important natural resource. It is an ecologically sensitive area and habitat for many different organisms. As caves have been threatened by both nature and humans, it is necessary to have basic protection before more damage occurs in the future. For a sustainable conservation and local economic development by order of the Prime Minister 47/2562: National Cave Management Policy Committee Appointment and the National Cave Management Policy meeting resolution 1/2563 on 24 January 2020. Below are the details of cave protection practice:
18 June 2020
(Warawut Silpa-Archa)
Minister of Natural Resources and Environment
National Cave Management Policy Committee Director
https://drive.google.com/…/1Vi7S_sTNj2q_5PgCTvO1OYj2i…/view…
Below is an unofficial translation.
Please, direct any questions or comments to the Department of Mineral Resources.
**********************************************************************************************************************************
Notification by the National Cave Management Policy Committee
Subject: Cave Protection Practice
Caves are an important natural resource. It is an ecologically sensitive area and habitat for many different organisms. As caves have been threatened by both nature and humans, it is necessary to have basic protection before more damage occurs in the future. For a sustainable conservation and local economic development by order of the Prime Minister 47/2562: National Cave Management Policy Committee Appointment and the National Cave Management Policy meeting resolution 1/2563 on 24 January 2020. Below are the details of cave protection practice:
- Do not touch cave formations e.g. stalactites, stalagmites, columns, including water dripping from stalactites.
- Do not hit, break or destroy rocks in the cave.
- Do not smoke, build a campfire, light candles/incense or any activity that cause changes in cave atmosphere.
- Do not bring food to eat inside and do not litter.
- Do not make a loud noise or any action that will disturb the animals in the cave including shoot a gun, light firecrackers or explosive object.
- Do not bring pets or other animals inside.
- Do not write, scratch, paint, or put on a poster.
- Do not urinate or defecate.
- Do not take anything from the cave e.g. rocks, minerals, fossils, antiquities or living organisms
- Do not perform any action that will divert the waterway or build any barrier that will cause a flood or drought unless permitted by the authorities.
- Do not camp in the cave.
- Do not walk off the trail.
- Do not touch and/or destroy the electricity system.
- Do not disturb antiquities or fossils in the cave.
- Do not build facilities e.g. bridge, trail, ladder unless it is a necessary facility for safety reasons.
- Must be companied by a local guide who meets the “Local Cave Guide” standard and strictly follow their instructions.
18 June 2020
(Warawut Silpa-Archa)
Minister of Natural Resources and Environment
National Cave Management Policy Committee Director