Thailand’s effort to turn the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex into a Unesco World Heritage Site has been made in vain for the past six years. Will it have succeeded by the time the annual World Heritage Convention convenes in July?
Category: Thailand
Massive fishing nets found choking coral reefs off Thai coast
Divers have discovered massive fishing nets blanketing coral reefs off the coast of Thailand, choking off a vital ecosystem for marine life.This underwater footage was captured by the divers to document the environmental damage caused by humans.
Thailand’s never-ending story of pollution non-regulation
Spraying water and checking smoke-belching vehicles are nothing but piecemeal efforts. State agencies are using their own legal apparatus in a haphazard manner to no avail, which explains why polluters are let off the hook. Although several bills designed to end smog season and hold polluters accountable are soon to be debated, they face an uphill battle in parliament.
China-backed SEZs linked to Southeast Asia’s illegal wildlife trade
Most interestingly, a significant part of this trade activity was observed in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) established to encourage increased trade and investment from China.
Thailand delays plastic scrap import ban for five years
It seems a compromise solution has been agreed, whereby the ban will come in within five years, but the definition of what constitutes permitted import of plastic scrap has been tightened.
Irrigation dams threaten Thailand’s tiger forests, say conservationists
Conservationists warn the plans could jeopardize the forest complex’s World Heritage status, which is due for review this July.
Pandemic creates silver lining at Pattaya reservoirs
The closure of hotels, water parks, soapy massage parlors and other tourist attractions, and the exodus from Pattaya of Thais that used to work in them. Before Covid-19, the Pattaya area used 250,000 cubic meters of water a day. That has fallen to 150,000.
Bangkok transports visitors around town on electric tuk-tuks and ferry boats
In Bangkok, the efforts towards achieving seamless urban transportation connectivity include the linking of electric trains, buses and boats. Already, passengers can switch between the MRT subway and BTS Skytrain networks and electric river ferries thanks to the close proximity of selected stations and boat piers.
Chinese SEZ’s in Lower Mekong region hotspots for wildlife trafficking, surveys say
From 2019 to 2020, market surveys from wildlife trade watchdog TRAFFIC found close to 78,000 illegal wildlife parts and products on sale in more than 1,000 outlets across Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia.
Outcomes of 6th MLC foreign ministers’ meeting and bilateral meeting between Cambodian and Thailand
Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation issued a press release on the outcomes of the 6th Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the bilateral meeting between Cambodian and Thai Foreign Ministers, held yesterday in Chongqing, China.