Raising concern about widespread and increasing selling of timber from native forests, Asu Hakat called on the President to push conservation laws, saying the government needed to act on this “important” issue.

Responding to the comment, Ruak said deforestation was a “big problem,” saying conservation awareness needed to be raised in communities.

 “This is a big problem. For the people who cutting the tree, we have prohibited to cut the tree but it’s a little bit difficult,’’ Ruak said.

“In the future we must see what the alternatives are to avoid this attitude,’’ he said.