The head of Thailand's Forestry Department has proposed giving concessions to companies to develop degraded forests, arguing it would stem encroachment and generate income for the state. Plodprasop Suraswadi said he believed issuing concessions would be in the best interests of the state, the private sector and, above all, the people. The problem with deforestation was that the government was bound to yield eventually to encroachers' demands and recognise them as rightful owners of forest land, he said. So instead of giving forest land away for the exclusive use of a group of people, a concession should be made available so all sides could benefit.