Conservationists, forestry academics and officials in Thailand yesterday clashed over the contents of a draft community forest bill, focussing on a contentious article which allows people to reside in protected forests. Forestry officials and academics who were the majority at yesterday's seminar on the bill opposed the article, saying that it would open the way for massive deforestation and wildlife destruction by communities. Conservationists, represented by only two non-government environmental organisations, argued that allowing communities to reside in forests would be the most effective way to protect natural resources.