Thailand faces coastal erosion

BANGKOK, July 28 (TNA) - Several coastal Thai areas, mostly along the Gulf of Thailand, have faced the problem of coastal erosion. The problem is more serious on 44 locations in 19 Thai provinces on a combined distance of 169 kilometers, with the destruction resulting from both natural and man-made causes. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, under the Thai Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, reported on Monday that the erosion has happened along 830 kilometers of Thai coasts, accounting for 26 per cent of all the coastal areas in the country. The report said the problem mainly occurs along over 730 kilometers of coastal areas facing the Gulf of Thailand, with its main causes including both the nature and humans, especially the construction of large-scaled projects, coastal tourism and rampant encroachment on mangrove forests. According to the report, the department is working out solutions to protect the eastern coast of Chanthaburi Province at the estuary of the Laem Sing River in Laem Sing District. Under the plan, local coastal eco-systems, as well as sand, rock and mud beaches are being studied and environmental impacts are being assessed with local people allowed to have their says in the solutions so that they will be friendly to local communities. (TNA)