Implementing Agency:
Department For International Development (PAND)

Managing Institute:
WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature)

Project Code: 182-680-002	Start Date: 01-Apr-88	End Date: 01-Mar-89
Commitment: £20,000	Status: Completed	Type of Funding: Bilateral - NGO Block Grant

Project Background:
Coastal ecosystems in Thailand are under particular threat from population pressure and development projects. There is an urgent need to collate information on the present status of coastal ecosystems and present it in a useful form to planners and decision-makers. The ecosystems to be studied are mangroves, mudflats, beach forest, turtle beaches and coral reefs. These ecosystems provide many important goods and services (eg erosion buffering, fish nursery grounds, forest products) as well as having high potential as tourist attractions and for conservation.

The principal activities which threaten these ecosystems and which need to be examined are: aquaculture, port and harbour development, industry, tourism and forestry.

Project Objectives:
To help to identify how a long-term future can be secured for the people in the coastal strip of Thailand.

To provide recommendations on conservation and management of coastal ecosystems of relevant government and development assistance agencies.

To assess principal values and threats to these ecosystems.

Identify critical coastal ecosystems in Thailand.

Intended Outputs:
Up-to-date status report on coastal habitats.

Dissemination of information to planning and governmental agencies.

Increased awareness amongst decision-makers on the value of, and threats to, coastal habitats.

Reduced chances of destruction of critical sites.