1. The avoidable cost of progress
Thailand’s economic performance may have
surpassed that of its neighboring countries, but
this hasn’t spared the country a range of
environmental problems: Deforestation, soil
erosion, wildlife trade, and air and water
pollution.

2. Deforestation
Efforts to convert forested land for agriculture, such as
slash-and-burn agriculture, have greatly reduced forest
cover in Thailand in the past. For example, forest cover
fell drastically from 53% in 1961 to 25% in 1998. With a
government measure in place to prohibit
logging, deforestation rates have dropped.
However, the impacts of deforestation, such as
erosion, are still being felt.

3. Overfishing
Excessive fishing has reduced fish catches by as much
as 90%. Fishermen have had to spend more time at sea
to catch the same amount of fish as before, while the
amount of “trash fish”— commercially unimportant
fish, including juveniles—per catch is also increasing.
For small-scale fisher folk, decreasing catches are
leading to conflicts with commercial operators.

4. Pollution
Thailand’s rapid industrial expansion and population growth
have caused increased pollution levels. A decrease in air quality
is also causing major health impacts. Overall, it was estimated in
2004 that air and water pollution costs the country 1.6% - 2.6% of
GDP per year.
As a result of growing untreated domestic sewage, industrial
wastewater and solid hazardous wastes, approximately one third
of Thailand’s surface water bodies are considered to be of poor
quality.
Meanwhile, increased water needs are leading to tremendous
pressure on Thailand's water resources, as the country ranks as
one of the lowest in Asia for water availability per capita.
Pollution also affects the marine environment. Red tides, caused
by excessive algal growth and a result of pollution, oil spills, and
invasive species are some of the factors that are affecting
Thailand's marine biodiversity.

5. Infrastructure development
Along coastal areas, popular locations for tourism and
urban and industrial development, populations have
grown, putting coastal wetlands,coral reefs, mangroves
and seagrasses under threat. For endangered species
such as whale sharks, dugongs, and turtles, such
developments represent added concerns regarding their
local survival prospects.

6. solutions
In 1982, WWF raised fund to support the establishment of
‘Wildlife Fund Thailand (WFT)' as a WWF associate.
Onward to January 1995, WWF Thailand opened its own
project office and became a WWF Thailand Programme
Office in July 1999.
WWF Thailand and WWF Indochina (Cambodia, Lao
PDR, and Vietnam) merged on 1 November 2005 to become
the WWF Greater Mekong Programme. The programme
works on regional and national projects across the 4
countries and focuses on 3 key ecoregions recognized
within the WWF Global 200 ecoregions.

7. Marine
Marine and Coastal Resources
 Thailand has a total coastal line of approximately 2,960 kilometers, 750 of which lies on
the Andaman Sea, 1,670 on the Gulf of Thailand and 520 kilometers distributed amongst
islands.
 These coastal areas consist of multiple natural resources, such as beach forests, mangrove
forests, seagrasses and coral reefs, all of which are of ecological significance both at the
local and national level.
Threats
Since ancient times, these resources have played a major role in the country's
growth, though possibly in different circumstances. Unfortunately, sustainable
management and practice have always been lacking. Currently, the need for these natural
resources increase as the amount of people whom use them increase as well, resulting in
the degradation of these resources. Therefore, in order to truly sustain growth, while
conserving these resources, it is necessary to integrate proper marine resources
management into conservation, but more importantly, to involve affected
parties, including government and private organizations.

8.  WHAT WWF IS DOING
 WWF Thailand's Marine and Coastal Unit is working on
conserving Thailand 's marine and coastal resources.
This unit does so by integrating multiple processes in
reaching the ultimate goal of sustainable development.
Throughout this time, there have been various operations.
Such operations include those that build awareness on
conservation, capacity building for marine national park
officers, restoration of marine resources and local
livelihoods, support of local technical information, tourism
industry, seeking partner organizations, and local
administrative offices as well as policy lobbying for
conservation of natural resources and environment

9. Freshwater
 The importance of wetlands in Thailand
 Wetlands are ecosystems of great significance; economically, socially and ecologically. Currently, wetlands comprise
approximately 36,616.16square kilometers or 7.5% of Thailand's area. Presently, these lands are being threatened from
encroachment and various forms of development.
 What are Wetlands?
Wetlands can be basins, plains, springs and other water sources both occurring naturally and synthetically. They
include both ephemeral and permanent pools, and can be freshwater, brackish water or saltwater, located on the coast
or inland. Wetlands are also defined by areas that have a water level of no more than 6 meters deep.
Why are Wetlands Important?
Wetland ecosystems play an significant role in ecosystem health, as they can act as a source of water, a reservoir, a
boundary blocking saltwater intrusion, guard against degradation of shorelines, and aid in prevention of
sedimentation, and leaching of minerals and other toxins.
Wetlands also support diverse populations of wildlife, both aquatic and terrestrial. They provide habitat for migratory
birds and act as breeding and spawning areas for hundreds of species of fish as well as rare marine mammals such as
dugongs, manatees and freshwater dolphins.
Particularly in South East Asia, wetlands directly support a majority of the rural population, with freshwater resources
providing income for many and contributing a valuable source of protein to their diets.
The many ways in which wetlands directly benefit human life and the environment exemplify the importance of
conserving their unique ecology.
Participatory Wetland Management with WWF Greater Mekong Thailand Country Programme
Participatory Wetland Management with WWF Greater Mekong Thailand Country Programme is a project between
WWF Denmark and WWF Greater Mekong Thailand Country Programme with Loei Fund for Nature Conservation
and Sustainable Development and Hug Muang Nan Foundation, supported by DANIDA, together helping execute the
project's goals of conserving the nation's wetlands.

10. Species
 Conservation biology in Thailand
 Wildlife in Thailand is protected by both National and International
laws. Unfortunately though, unique species have declined over years
through lack of scientific knowledge and illegal poaching and hunting.
This has renderded many protected areas “empty forests”.
 Conservation practice and collaboration are at early stages of
development, even in Thailand with a relatively long history of
PA establishment.
The conservation status of plants, the ecology of different plant
communities, and their role as wildlife habitat, is poorly
understood.
The Conservation Biology Unit is saving threatened species and
communities of plants and animals through ecological
research, training of protected are staff and local people, and
field-based conservation projects. Our approach combines
ecological research (for example to understand population
dynamics, habitat use, and feeding ecology of endangered
species) and innovative methods of collaborative management to
conserve wildlife and forests.

11.  WHAT WWF IS DOING
 The Conservation Biology Unit is working towards
saving threatened species and communities of plants
and animals through ecological research, training of
protected are staff and local people, and field-based
conservation projects. Our approach combines
ecological research (for example to understand
population dynamics, habitat use, and feeding ecology
of endangered species) and innovative methods of
collaborative management to conserve wildlife and
forest

12. Environmental Education
 Information tailored for Students & Teachers
 Developing conservation consciousness in the next generation through fun and experience
 It's not just people that learn...
Education is necessary for a large amount of living organisms. Different animals receive education
and learn from nature in varying manners. Some animals, such as the turtle or crocodile have young
that have to learn by themselves, learn from instincts, at a very young age; a learning process where
survival is key.
At the same time, higher animals, such as bears, take care of their cubs for several years. In this
manner, the cubs learn survival and feeding skills from the parent. Another example is
monkeys, which learn from each other in a group setting where hierarchy is present. Humans are the
only species that can learn at a very high level that enables us to develop and change our society. It is
education that has placed humankind on this long, unpredictable path.
WWF Thailand's Vision
WWF Thailand has collected experiences from working in environmental education, both in schools
and at the national policy level, in the hope that WWF Thailand can be a part of developing the
educational system, specifically in environmental education, as a means to conserve Thailand's
biodiversity. In doing so, this biodiversity becomes the source allowing for a balance of both
development and conservation that will ultimately lead to sustainable development.
Experiential Education
The establishment of Bang Pu and Rangsit Nature and Agriculture Education Centers as learning
centres for schools has created place where the connection between urban development, natural
resources and the environment can be expolred.
Lessons have been established to coincide with curriculum standards and use the natural
environment to motivate interest in conservation. This system of learning allows larening about the
environment in a fun manner while also building awareness of environmental isses. Ultimately, from
awareness, a desire to help one another maintain conservation of natural resources and environment
arises.

13. Climate change
Energy and Climate Change
The overall aim of the work on energy and climate change is to significantly gear and influence changes at the national
policy level through the implementation of grassroot and local initiatives.
The focus is on mitigation, adaptation and raising awareness. Specifically, on the mitigation, the work is significantly on
energy through the promotion of decentralised energy system and planning process; a switch from coal to cleaner and
sustainable energy alternatives, including energy savings, energy efficiency and renewable energy, the introduction of
carbon neutrality actions and the implementation of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) through Gold
Standard (GS).
The work on adaptation includes the identification of climate change impacts on different sectors to lead to a national
formulation and implementation of adaptation plan and policy. Awareness raising is to involve key stakeholders and
targeted audiences to support on less carbon intensive policy and the sustainable implementation of adaptation
measures. A multi-partite stakeholder participatory process is the main approach actively applied to activities, apart
from policy lobbying and advocacy.
Partners
Partners involved in activities range from local communities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), academic
institutions, local and national governments, private entities, financial institutions to policy makers.
 Preparation for a Strategic and Participatory Municipal Action Plan on Sustainable Energy: Krabi Municipality , Krabi
Province : aiming at preparing for a municipal plan on sustainable energy through a participatory process. The plan is
finally integrated into the Municipal Plan leading to implementation. Through the process, a group of concerned
citizens on energy and climate change was established and has been actively working to promote the issues of energy
and climate change. The participatory process in local energy planning is to be replicated on a larger scale and nation
wide.
Enhancement and promotion of GS in CDM projects: promoting the wider use of the GS in CDM projects and as a
national GS endorser, getting involved and providing inputs to the CDM projects, including those requiring emission
reductions on a voluntary basis and intending to become carbon neutrality.