Environment News

Thailand environment news, climate change, sustainability, and natural disasters—stay updated on eco-initiatives, biodiversity conservation, and renewable energy efforts. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted source for environmental news in Thailand.

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  • Chon Buri marine officials take action against Sattahip tour guide – VIDEO

    Chon Buri marine officials take action against Sattahip tour guide – VIDEO

    PHOTOS/VIDEO: Go-Eco Phuket The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) officials have made an official report to Sattahip Police in Chon Buri after a video clip of a man, acting as a tour guide pulling up a sea flower where an Anemone Fish was hiding inside for tourists, became viral in social media yesterday. The video clip was posted…

  • Coral off Phuket suffering from bleaching

    Coral off Phuket suffering from bleaching

    by Thai PBS Corals have started to bleach off the coast of Phuket. The problem is due to the warming of the sea, according to reports from the Phuket-based operations centre of the 2nd National Marine Park. Marine scientists at the centre conducted a survey of coral reefs off Nai Yang beach in the Sirinat national park last Thursday and…

  • Mae Hong Son continues to be plagued with fires

    Mae Hong Son continues to be plagued with fires

    Mae Hong Son province continues to be plagued by forest fires despite the ban and the raging haze and smoke problems. In recent months, Mae Hong Son has been struggling with haze most of the time with flights to its airport limited at the height of the crisis. Exposure to the serious air pollution has become a threat to the…

  • Developer pulls the plug on 500 million baht retirement project in Chiang Mai

    Developer pulls the plug on 500 million baht retirement project in Chiang Mai

    PHOTO: Sunshine International Retirement Residence & Serviced Apartment, Hua Hin Sunshine International, Thailand’s leading brand of retirement residences says that their project which was due to be constructed near Chiang Mai’s city centre has now been cancelled. Sunshine International, a retirement property that included around the clock medical facilities, on site doctors and nurses, and state of the art facilities,…

  • Hunters injured in Chiang Mai national park shoot-out

    Hunters injured in Chiang Mai national park shoot-out

    Two ethnic Lahu hunters have been injured in a clash with Sri Lanna National Park officials in Chiang Mai over the weekend. The Lahu are one of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognised by the People’s Republic of China, where about 720,000 live in Yunnan province, mostly in Lancang Lahu Autonomous County. In Thailand, the Lahu are one of the…

  • Fix the smoke haze problem in 7 days – PM

    Fix the smoke haze problem in 7 days – PM

    “Go and hit the fires with this spade!” The Thai PM in Chiang Mai today by Saksit Muttafa, Krissana Porjit PM Prayut Chan-o-cha says the government was ready to support the integration of related agencies’ work to tackle the north’s smoke and haze problem within seven days. Prayut, who visited Chiang Mai today, also said HM the King was concerned about…

  • Alarmingly high PM2.5 levels found in Chiang Mai, INSIDE a safety zone building

    Alarmingly high PM2.5 levels found in Chiang Mai, INSIDE a safety zone building

    A Chiang Mai air-pollution safe zone proved to be not that ‘safe’ according to a medical lecturer. The level of PM2.5 very fine particles was found to be very high INSIDE the designated area. But the problem was soon resolved later in the day. Dr Rungsrit Kanjanavanit, a lecturer in medicine at Chiang Mai University, posted a picture of him…

  • Academics urging a State of Emergency for the North

    Academics urging a State of Emergency for the North

    by Pratch Rujivanarom An academic is calling on the government to declare a state of emergency as Chiang Mai and most Northern Provinces face ‘disastrous’ levels of PM2.5 smog and smoke haze.Citizen in the North are being advised to stay inside air conditioned buildings and avoid all outdoor activities, as some areas of Chiang Mai recorded PM2.5 levels reaching higher…

  • Sea turtle dies after getting tangled in a fishing net – Prachuap Khiri Khan

    Sea turtle dies after getting tangled in a fishing net – Prachuap Khiri Khan

    PHOTOS: The Wild Animal Rescue Foundation of Thailand A series of photos that convey everything we should be concerned about in Thailand’s marine ecology. A Green Sea Turtle, tangled in a fishing net, has been washed up on a beach in Prachuap Khiri Khan. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources reports that they were notified that a dead sea…

  • Chiang Mai ‘s tourism holds up despite smoke and smog

    Chiang Mai ‘s tourism holds up despite smoke and smog

    by Siriarpa Kamjan, ttgasia.com Chiang Mai’s current poor air quality and smoke haze is raising concerns on the potential impact on tourism as Thailand’s Songkran water festival approaches. Smog has been a yearly occurrence in Northern Thailand, but this year the situation appears to be the worst with Chiang Mai topping the air pollution ranking and the media tracking daily…

  • Hazardous: Chiang Mai again leads the world in air pollution

    Hazardous: Chiang Mai again leads the world in air pollution

    Chiang Mai is back on top of the world’s list of most air-polluted cities, according to the AirVisual.com website. AirVisual reports at 1.45pm that the air quality index (AQI) of Chiang Mai on Saturday stands at 471 (##!!??!!) , much higher than the 100 AQI safety standard (the WHO lists the safety limit as 50 on the AQI scale). It’s…

  • Thailand’s north continues to choke under record smoke levels

    Thailand’s north continues to choke under record smoke levels

    PHOTO: Burn-off of plantation land and forest fires continue to blanket the north in smoke – Thailand Discovery For the fourth consecutive day Chiang Mai ranks as the world’s most air-polluted city, with an air quality index (AQI) score of 282 this morning on airvisual.com. Mae Hong Son meanwhile continued to battle multiple forest fires, and Lampang saw it Thammasat University…

  • Forecast for poor air quality returning to Bangkok

    Forecast for poor air quality returning to Bangkok

    Smog, smoke and haze problems have returned to the capital and its neighboring provinces. Nine areas were found to contain levels exceeding the 50-micron safety level yesterday. Blaming the poor air quality on weak low-altitude air flow, the pollution control department predicts that the situation might further deteriorate. The department pleaded for cooperation from members of the public by not burning anything in open areas and…

  • Shoppers said ‘no’ to 237 million plastic bags at 7-11 in three months

    Shoppers said ‘no’ to 237 million plastic bags at 7-11 in three months

    More than 237 million plastic bags have been left unused at Thailand’s 7-eleven stores in the past three months – valued at more than 47 million baht. But the media release from CP All, the local franchise owners of 7-eleven, doesn’t announce how many plastic bags were actually used during the same period. The sole operator of 7-Eleven convenience stores…

  • Air quality for Thailand – March 7

    Air quality for Thailand – March 7

    Central Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Northern Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to…

  • Air quality for Thailand – March 6

    Air quality for Thailand – March 6

    Central Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Northern Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Southern Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants…

  • Air quality for Thailand – March 5

    Air quality for Thailand – March 5

    Central Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Northern Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to…

  • Air quality for Thailand – March 4

    Air quality for Thailand – March 4

    Central Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.   Northern Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive…

  • Chiang Mai kids are demanding action on air pollution

    Chiang Mai kids are demanding action on air pollution

    PHOTOS: Facebook / Pharadon Phonamnua Children and their parents in Chiang Mai are sick of the poor air quality in the northern capital and have issued a new Facebook challenge with the hashtag #CleanAirAct. The Facebook page has their photos taken with an “anti-PM2.5 dust” flags, they want action and they want it NOW. Campaign organiser Pharadon Phonamnuai, pointing out that…

  • Saying no to ‘Say No’ campaigns – Tackling Thailand’s plastic bag problem

    Saying no to ‘Say No’ campaigns – Tackling Thailand’s plastic bag problem

    Some timid but long overdue steps are now being taken towards reducing Thailand’s plastic waste. Baby steps to start with but there is no doubt that the issue has now entered the Thai national psyche. In reaction, so far, Thai businesses have, for the most part, made only cursory PR efforts at tackling the bigger problem but, again, it’s a…

  • Air quality for Thailand – March 1

    Air quality for Thailand – March 1

    Central Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Northern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Southern Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants…

  • Air quality for Thailand – February 28

    Air quality for Thailand – February 28

    Central Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Northern Thailand Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects Southern Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants…

  • Air quality for Thailand – February 27

    Air quality for Thailand – February 27

    Central Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Northern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Southern Thailand It is a great day to be active…

  • Air quality for Thailand – February 26

    Air quality for Thailand – February 26

    Central Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Northern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Southern Thailand It is a great day to be active…

  • Poor air quality and smoke continue to dog Chiang Mai

    Poor air quality and smoke continue to dog Chiang Mai

    PHOTO: Sanook Chiang Mai continue to suffer from a smog and haze crisis. Residents are suffering the affects of the poor air quality for the second week in a row in the northern Thai city. A high reading of 176 has been recorded just north of the city centre but the areas all around Chiang Mai are registering high readings recorded…

  • Air quality for Thailand – February 22

    Air quality for Thailand – February 22

    Central Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Northern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Southern Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants…

  • Air quality for Thailand – February 21

    Air quality for Thailand – February 21

    Central Thailand It is a great day to be active outside.   Northern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected.   Southern Thailand It is a great day to be active outside.

  • Air quality for Thailand – February 20

    Air quality for Thailand – February 20

    Central Thailand It is a great day to be active outside. Northern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Southern Thailand It is a great day to be active outside.

  • Air quality for Thailand – February 15

    Air quality for Thailand – February 15

    Central Thailand Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Northern Thailand Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. Southern Thailand It is a great day to be active…

  • “Close down the schools” – Chiang Mai University academic

    “Close down the schools” – Chiang Mai University academic

    PHOTO: Measuring the PM2.5 particles and pollution from public transport in Chiang Mai With Chiang Mai making the list for worst air pollution in the world (Number 3), calls are growing for schools and educational institutes in the northern province to close down temporarily. “The Chiang Mai University, in particular, should suspend its classes until the situation improves. Not only…