Author: Sellappu I. Nithiaraj
AIT Library Call Number: AIT RSPR no. HS-96-04
Year: 1996
Academic Program: Human Settlement (HS)
Type: Research Studies Project Report (M.Sc.) – Asian Institute of Technology, 1996
Examination Committee: Hans Detlef Kammeier (Chairperson); Vinod K. Tewari, Zakir Hussain (Examination Committee Members)
Abstract: In Thailand, the mangrove forests occupied the areas along the Gulf of Thailand with the total area of about 173,821 ha. Unfortunately, human activities have caused severe destruction of mangrove forests where more than a half of mangrove areas was destroyed during the past 3 2 years ( 1961 – 1993 ) for various purposes such as human settlements, road construction, mining activities and shrimp farming. On the other hand, marine shrimp aquaculture is an important foreign exchange earner in Thailand. The growth in production has been achieved through the expansion of the culture area and the adoption of intensive production methods. Though the unplanned development of shrimp farming provides good profits, it has created serious adverse impact on mangrove forests and adjacent coastal land use as a whole by means of clear cutting and effluent discharge. The conversion of mangrove areas into shrimp culture, however, is proving to have many consequences that impinge on the environmental integrity of coastal areas. The main impacts are destruction of coastal mangroves, loss of land resources and deterioration of water quality. In addition, many plants and animal species are now threatened with extinction in mangrove areas. It is, therefore, needed to manage shrimp farming in such a way which does not impose compromising impact on productivity of mangroves and water quality. Though many efforts have been done to solve the conflicts of mangrove land uses, problems of mangrove degradation and unplanned shrimp cultivation are still important issues to be discussed. After a field study in the coastal area of Khlung district in Chanthaburi province, this research study reviews the development of marine shrimp culture industry and mangrove forest destruction in the district, and the problems caused by uncontrolled shrimp farming and mangrove degradation. Then the study focused on the management of coastal resources in Thailand, its legal and administrative framework followed by a critical review of thes
Scholarship Donor(s): World Council of Churches, Geneva
Note: A research study submitted m partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development
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