Environmental News Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment
Vol. 9/2547
July 12, 2004

• Improving environmental quality: Thailand s economic expansion has come with significant environmental costs. Rapid expansion of industry and increasing population, especially in urban areas, has rapidly increased the levels of pollution (solid and hazardous waste, air, noise, and water). Fine particles in Bangkok air continue to exceed standards at major roads and intersection, and 32 percent of surface water is classified as poor and very poor. The resulting risks to human health are high. The CDP-E will work with the Government and others in addressing these issues through such remedies as more effective enforcement of environmental laws; building stronger institutional capacity, both national and local; and increased investments in pollution prevention and control, with private sector participation.
• Sustaining natural resources: Land conversion, slash-and-burn agriculture, and intense exploitation of water have led to rapid deterioration of natural resources. Forest cover fell drastically from 53 percent in 1961 to 25 percent in 1998, and over - harvesting of marine fisheries has reduced fishing yields by 80 percent between 1963-1993 Of particular concern is water scarcity, which occurs against a backdrop of low availability, high pollution, and increasing per capita consumption. In 2000, Thailand ranks the lowest in ASEAN for annual per capita water availability but it ranks 14th in the world in industrial organic water pollution.

Mr. Jemal-ud-din Kassum, World Bank Vice President for East Asia and the Pacific, He commented, 'Hopefully through this new Partnership, we can learn better what works, what does not, and how together we can forge a path for exchange, knowledge, and analysis needed to address the high -priority issue of environmental management today. We value these Partnerships as a unique tool to engage with our key counterparts in Government and other people who are so integral to this issue - civil society, the private sector, academics.'

Mr. Ian Porter, Country Director for Thailand, said, "We see the Country Development Partnership as a tool for knowledge engagement with the Government of Thailand and other international partners. It focuses on analytical and monitoring work with a limited amount of implementation support, if needed, for selected critical issues in Thailand s overall national development agenda - in this case improving the quality and sustainability of Thailand s environmental resources.

To better balance conservation and exploitation of natural resources, Thailand is looking at how it can ensure an integrated approach to sustainable resource management, eliminate harmful subsidies (such as excessive use of pesticides and over-fishing), and assist in the capacity building of local institutions and communities.
H.E. Suwit Khunkitti, Minister, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE), commented, "The rehabilitation of natural resources and the environment requires participation. MoNRE has initiated a project of Natural Resources and Environment for the Village, or Tho So Mo, for people to join together and participate in the management of natural resources and the environment. The concept of this project is to share ideas, join hands, make decisions jointly, solve problems together, and participate in development. This cooperation will lead us to sustainable development".
Mr. Kassum said, "Recent actions and statements demonstrate the Thai Government s commitment to addressing the country s environment and natural resource issues which were overlooked during the high growth years. As Thailand once again returns to a robust growth rate, the challenge is to simultaneously improve both the quality of growth and its sustainability of that growth - - and how to share those lessons with its neighbors who are struggling with similar issues." He cited a number of factors suggesting this an opportune time for the Partnership to begin, including:

• The creation of the new Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE);
• the emergence of environment and natural resource issues on the national agenda;
• a growing international presence on environmental issues, including Thailand s recent ratification of the Convention on Biodiversity;
• recent accomplishments in air quality management;
• a rapidly expanding civil society and community-level environmental movement;
• completion of a number of plans demonstrating government commitment to achieving a high quality and sustainable environment in Thailand - including the plan for the Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality, the Ninth National
• Economic and Social Development Plan, and the Public Sector Reform Program which created the new Ministry.