Wetlands back in focus

Encroachment of wetlands is in focus as Thailand prepares to mark the February 2 World Wetlands Day.

Santi Boonprakub, deputy chief of the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP), said yesterday the five most-encroached and most-damaged wetlands last year were Nakhon Si Thammarat's Kuan Kreng peat swamp, Nakhon Sawan's Beung Boraphet lake, Sakhon Nakhon's Nong Han lake, Udon Thani's Nong Han Kumphawapi lake and the Sarakham river basin's Bung and Tam forestland.

Thailand has 12 wetlands listed on the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance, 69 wetlands of international importance, 47 wetlands of national importance as well as 19,295 wetlands of local importance. A Cabinet resolution on November 3, 2009 called for clearer wetland conservation practices and a stop to wetland encroachment.