Thailand

Thailand is a country with extensive natural areas, which is enjoyed by local inhabitants, researchers, and tourists alike. Their marine ecosystems include, but are not limited to, coral reefs, mangroves, and tidal flats. These ecosystems make up the entire coastline of Thailand, which borders the gulf of Andaman and the Gulf of Thailand. Protected areas within Thailand began to be established in 1962, and since then about 26 marine protected areas have been created [1]. These areas cover around a total of 5,810 km2 [1]. According to the Thailand National Park Act, all MPAs within Thailand are no-take zones. However, there are a few cases in which an agreement has been made with the local fisher population to allow for subsistence living. For example, within the Ranong UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve located south of Bangkok, a local population has retained their rights to rely on the mangroves for their daily fishing and aquaculture. The main threat to Thailand’s MPAs is the lack of knowledge of why and what the parks are protecting. Many of the parks are highly understaffed, leading to many encroachment and poaching issues associated with them. However, Thailand has been able to overcome these issues in some of the parks through the action of local inhabitants or conservationists spreading awareness of habitat protection and the importance of biodiverse ecosystems. Through the hard work of these people, many threats have been diminished including the extinction of harmful fishing techniques in certain areas. So while there are difficulties associated with enforcement, they are committed to keeping their ecosystems intact and high in biodiversity.

Citation:

[1] Sethapun, T. (2000) Marine National Park in Thailand.