Bt40m globalwarming award meets opposition

However, an academic at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Science yesterday said he did not see how this project would be able to reduce global temperatures.

"The project is not worth the money to be spent," Dr Thanawat Jarupongsakul said.

The project will allocate Bt12 million for making windmills, Bt8 million for installing a wastewatertreatment system, Bt4 million for building bamboo fences and Bt16 million for preparing exhibitions and learning centres.

"Bamboo fences won't last long and will cause many problems. They've been used for many years at Klong Tan. There's no point in demonstrating the use of bamboo fencing along coastal areas any more," Thanawat insisted.

In response, Marine and Coastal Resources Department directorgen¬eral Samran Rakchat explained coastal erosion was eating about 10 metres of land from Bang Pu each year.

"The project we're going to do is a conservation effort, one that is intended to reduce the effects of global warming," he said.

Samran said the project would last one year, after which the results would determine whether it should be expanded to other areas. "If it's successful, we'll launch similar projects in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat.

In a related move, the Royal Thai Army will help the ministry grow mangrove forests in Bang Pu from November 25.