It is difficult for Thailand to name even a few of the most important pollutants. This is because Thailand has a long coastline bordering part of the two large oceans. The environmental conditions of Thailand waters are consequently diversified. In order to be able to identify the most important pollutants in a realistic way, one should divide the areas into two parts:
Gulf of Thailand
The most important pollutants in the mangrove forests in the Gulf of Thailand are:
Municipal wastes, especially solid wastes;
Industrial wastes, especially lead, mercury, and other heavy metals, sugar mills wastes, and tapioca plant wastes;
Agricultural wastes, and especially insecticide and herbicide residues;
Riverine pollution from petroleum products.
Andaman Sea
In the coastal zone along the Andaman Sea, the most important pollutants are the sediments which come from tin mine tailing.
Gulf of Thailand
The most polluted areas at present are the mangrove forests and the mudflats on the northern part of the Gulf. The estuarine regions at the mouths of the four large rivers, notably the Chao Phraya, Ta-Chin, Mae Klong, and Bang Pakong are considered to be the most polluted areas (Praphavasit and Piyakarnchana, 1979).
The Andaman Sea
The areas most polluted, as a result of the tin mine tailing water in the Andaman Sea, are some beaches and coral reef flats at Phuket Island.
In Thailand three symposia on the mangrove ecosystem have taken place. Most of the research scientific papers are on the fishery and forestry aspects. A few papers were devoted to fundamental knowledge of the mangrove ecosystem. They were concerned with the fauna and flora in the mangrove forests and litter production in mangrove area.
Other important basic knowledge on the mangrove ecosystem which should be developed would include the following topics:
Physico-chemical properties;
Effects of external factors on the mangrove ecosystems including the input of fresh water nutrients;
Inhibitors and silt from upstream and the tidal input from the sea;
The net primary production, and
The energy flow in the mangrove community. The direct impact of pollution on the mangrove ecosystem has not been studied.
It is by no means unrealistic to say that in Thailand basic and applied knowledge on the mangrove ecosystem is totally inadequate.
The ecosystem in the estuarine region of Phang Nga Bay (by Chulalongkorn University, Kasetsart University, Financial Support from the National Research Council);
Preliminary survey on the ecological factors in the Avicennia marine forest at Cholburi Province (by Chulalongkorn University);
Primary productivity in the mangrove forest of the upper Gulf of Thailand (by Chulalongkorn University);
Chemical studies on the interstitial waters and sediments in the estuarine area (by Chulalongkorn University);
Seasonal variation of lead and mercury in the green mussel and plankton in the vicinity of the Chao Phraya River mouth (by Chulalongkorn University);
Fauna on Koh Yao Yai mangrove shore, Phuket Island (by Phuket Marine Biological Center);
Effect of salinity on germination of mangrove seedlings (by Phuket Marine Biological Center).
The most important research needs in Thailand should be the acquisition of basic knowledge on the mangrove ecology which can be used as the basis for the conservation and rational use of the mangrove forests.
The second priority should deal with the problems of development and the management of the mangrove forest. This research should be integrated studies in the field of forestry and fishery so as to achieve multi-use possibilities and environmental protection. It should be interdisciplinary and should also include the socio-economic aspects of the subject in the program.
The research projects on the mangrove ecosystem which were suggested by the third national seminar in April 8–12, 1979 at Prince of Songkhla University are as follows:
A. Structure of the mangrove ecosystem
1. Climatology
Study of the microclimatology in certain mangrove area;
Study on the daily weathering which might cause the impact on the living organisms in the mangrove forest;
Relationship between the microclimate and phenology of the mangrove forest in different areas.
2. Hydrological study in the mangrove forest
Hydrological study in various locations of the mangrove forest;
Oceanographic study along the coastline near the mangrove forests;
Study on the accumulation of sediment in the mangrove forest;
Study on the pattern of the distribution and the dagradation of pollutants.
3. Forestry
Study on the structure of mangrove forest in some locations;
Study on the plant physiology in the mangrove forest;
Study on microalgae and macroalgae in the mangrove forest;
Study on the epiphytes in the mangrove forest.
4. Structure of animals and lower plants in the mangrove forest
Study on the microorganism in the mangrove forest;
Study on the sea grass;
Study on the life history and density of plants and animals, special emphasis should base on the economic importance or rare and endanger species;
Study on the impacts of pollutants on the organisms in the mangrove forest;
Study on the activity and function of plants and animals in the mangrove forest with special emphasis on the energy transfer, food chain and food webs;
Study on the animal succession in the cultivated forest.
5. Soil and water quality
Should extend the study into more details.
B. Production rate of the mangrove resources
1. Forestry
Study on the primary production of the mangrove forest. This study should also cover the nutrient cycles;
Comparative study on the growth rate of the mangrove in the natural and cultivated areas.
2. Fishery
Research on the fishery production in the mangrove forest;
Study on new technologies and methodologies for aquaculture in order to increase the fishery production in mangrove areas.
C. Utilization of the mangrove resources
1. Socio-economic characteristics of the communities in the mangrove forest.
2. Epidemology of tropical diseases in the mangrove forest dwellers
Study on Vibrio parahaemolyticus in mangrove forest dwellers;
Comparative study on epidemies in disturbed and undisturbed forests.
3. Utilization of mangrove forests for industry
Study for the improvement of charcoal kilns and also wood distillation.
4. Agriculture
It is suggested to study the utilization of mangrove forest areas for agricultural purposes.
5. Ore mining
Study on the impact of ore mining on the mangrove ecosystem, and ways how to correct the situation.
D. Management and conservation of mangrove forests
Study on the costs and benefits in the utilization of different types of the mangrove forest. This study should consider both the economical and ecological values.
Utilization of the results from research and transformation into conservation measurements for mangrove forests.
There is no present international cooperation with the countries in this sub-region in the field of research and monitoring of the pollution on mangrove ecosystem. The cooperation is mostly in the field of development. Such cooperation, if any, will be done through the International Agencies such as SEAFDEC, UNEP, UNESCO and FAO/UNDP-SCSP (South China Sea Fisheries Development and Coordinating Programme).
A bilateral agreement between Thailand and Denmark on marine biological science carried out at the Phuket Marine Biological Center, includes many research projects on the mangrove ecology. Some of these projects are presently going on; some other planned research projects are awaiting more financial support.
Thailand as well as other developing countries in this region needs more international support for the research programme on pollution problems in the mangrove ecosystem. In fact, every year the Office of the National Research Council of Thailand gives some financial support to the researchers in this field. However, with the increasing deterioration to the environment by the human activities, more support should be given to the environmental researcher in this field to assess the situation adequately.
The National Research Council of Thailand seeks more international support in various ways. For example the National Mangrove Ecological Committee was asked to prepare a proposal “The Mangrove Ecological Research Project” to the Department of the Technical and Economic Cooperation in order to find the financial support from the international organizations.
Besides this proposal, the National Research Council with Unesco have proposed the project on “Training and Research Pilot Programme on the Mangrove Ecosystems of Asia and Oceania”, which is now about to start implementation.
