Environmental problems in Thailand

The avoidable cost of progress

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

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.



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.



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.



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.