Large palm oil companies will lose their lucrative access to forest areas after the Royal Forest Department announced it would not renew plantation concessions.
Deputy director-general Somchai Masathian said the land plots should be allocated to local farmers rather than wealthy investors.
"The poor are our top priority in allotting land from palm plantations," Mr Somchai said, pointing to recent disputes between locals and major palm oil companies over access to expired concession plots.
For 30 years, palm concession holders have paid just 30 baht per rai to the state, Mr Somchai sai...