Abstract

This study analyzes objections to the Ecological and Natural Map submitted to the National Institute of Ecology from 2014 to 2024 to evaluate the impacts of forest management on changes within the Ecological and Natural Map. Among 958 objection cases, 178 (18.58%) were related to forest management, accounting for 31.23% of the total objection area. Sites subjected to forest management showed notable decreases in Grade 1 areas (33.15%) and increases in Grade 3 areas (43.21%), indicating that forest management can reduce ecological value and accelerate downgrading within the Ecological and Natural Map. Some cases also revealed intentional management to induce map changes for development purposes. In response, the Ministry of Environment revised the 2024 guidelines to defer map re-evaluation for five years in managed areas; however, this may be insufficient considering longer forest recovery periods. The study provides empirical evidence linking forest management to ecological degradation and offers insights for policy improvement and sustainable land management.