CONSERVATION
APINYA WIPATAYOTIN
Thailand has up to 20 pristine wetlands with the potential to be classified as being of international importance for better protection of their fragile ecological systems, according to WWF Thailand. The environmental group made a one-year survey of the country's wetlands and shortlisted 20 sites in 27 provinces that it thinks are qualified for listing under the Ramsar Convention, an international treaty for the conservation and responsible use of wetlands and their resources.The wetland sites cover about 18,500 square kilometres in total.
The largest is a complex along the Gulf of Thailand covering 2,590 sq km. The smallest is Koh Kra, off Koh Samui. It covers only five sq km and is the last nesting site of sea turtles in Thailand.
Chavalit Vidthayanon, WWF's senior freshwater specialist, said three of the 20 sites meet all nine criteria of the Ramsar Convention. These are Bung Boraphet in Nakhon Sawan province, Songkhla Lake, and the inner Gulf of Thailand.
Other sites meet at least one criteria of the convention, he said. Under the convention, wetlands which meet just a single criteria can be listed.
Other prime wetlands named by the WWF include Chiang Rai-Nong Lom on the Mekong river bank, which is a breeding ground of the giant catfish, and Klong Chompoo basin in Phitsanulok, which has a unique ecological system of limestone wetland.
Klong Chompoo is also one of the two last habitats of freshwater crocodiles in Thailand and home to a rare cave-dwelling fish species. The other freshwater crocodile habitat is Kang Krachan national park in Phetchaburi province.
Thailand currently has 11 wetlands listed as Ramsar Sites.
The government recently proposed the registration of another three, including Kud Ting in Nong Khai, Bung Boraphet in Nakhon Sawan, and Koh Kra in Nakhon Si Thammarat.
It is expected the nominations will be tabled for discussion during the conference of the Ramsar Convention to be held in South Korea in late October.
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