THUNG YAI NARESUAN SANCTUARY
PIYARACH CHONGCHAROEN
Having the polluted Klity creek and a lead-processing plant nearby would harm attempts to list the forests surrounding Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary in Kanchanaburi as a World Heritage site, a leading environmentalist said yesterday. Thung Yai Naresuan has been listed as a World Heritage site since 1991 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).
Thai authorities are preparing to ask Unesco to also list the sanctuary's nearby forests, including the Kaeng Krachan forest complex south of Kanchanaburi.
''But lead contamination would be a significant reason to delay or even halt these efforts,'' said Karen Development and Studies Centre director Surapong Kongchantuk.
Mr Surapong has helped Karen villagers living near Klity creek fight for compensation for their almost two decades of exposure to lead contamination. It was suspected the creek was contaminated by lead sediment discharged from a mining operation upstream.
Nearly 15,000 tonnes of lead sediment, released from a now-defunct lead mine, remains in the creek.
The government has been criticised for its passive approach to restoring the creek.
Of greatest concern for the heritage bid is the continued operation of a lead ore-processing plant, owned by the Kanchanaburi Exploration and Mining Co (Kemco), Mr Surapong said.
He says the government must close down the plant if the World Heritage bid is to be successful.
The mining operation is located in a forest in the proposed new national park called Lam Klong Ngu.
Thailand successfully listed the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai forest complex in the Northeast as a World Heritage site in 2005.
Prev
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Next
