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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Blackchin tilapia threat leads to fish destruction in Phuket
Concerns over the potential invasion of blackchin tilapia in Phuket have led to the destruction of 20 kilogrammes of the fish sold at local markets. The environmental group Monsoon Garbage Thailand sparked the action, highlighting the ecological threat posed by the species if it were to establish itself in the island’s waters. The blackchin tilapia, a cichlid species native to…
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Heavy rain, strong winds wreak havoc in Pattaya and Na Kluea
Heavy rain and strong winds battered the coastal areas of Pattaya and Na Kluea today, causing significant damage to property and infrastructure. The Meteorological Department of Thailand predicted heavy rain in 80% of the area, focusing particularly on the Eastern region and Bangkok. Additionally, the Southern Andaman coast and the Gulf of Thailand were expected to experience waves up to…
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Prime minister fears for Trat amid worsening floods
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin voiced serious concern about the ongoing flooding in Trat, which has persisted since it was first reported last week. The government is closely monitoring the situation in the eastern province, according to a Facebook post by the Thai premier yesterday, July 29. The 62 year old Thai prime minister expressed gratitude to the Royal Thai Armed…
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Japan urges ASEAN to prioritise hybrids over EVs for sustainability
Japan advocates for hybrid vehicles as an effective path for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to reach sustainable development goals. During the Economic Security and Supply Chains seminar, Yasuyuki Todo from the Faculty of Political Science and Economics at Waseda University cautioned ASEAN about over-relying on the electric vehicle (EV) industry. He pointed out that since Asean mainly…
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Efforts intensify to protect rare marine species in Andaman Sea
Efforts to protect rare marine species along the Andaman Sea have intensified, with new aerial surveys revealing the presence of dugongs, sea turtles, and dolphins, highlighting a thriving marine ecosystem. The initiative, spearheaded by senior officials, aims to conserve these precious resources. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Pachara Wongsoonsawat has shown significant concern for the…
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Landslide warning issued at Khao Yai National Park
A landslide warning has been issued at Khao Yai National Park due to heavy rain, causing soil and rocks to slide onto Thanarat Road. Park officials urge caution, especially near the waterfall. Heavy rainfall has led to a dangerous landslide situation at Khao Yai National Park, resulting in soil and rocks cascading down from over 100 metres high. Chaiya Huayhongthong,…
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Mae Sot hit by severe flooding as Moei River overflows
Heavy rainfall over the past four days in Mae Sot, Tak province has caused the Moei River to overflow, rising 1.2 metres above its banks and flooding multiple villages. Emergency services are working around the clock to assist affected residents. Continuous downpours in Mae Sot have led to significant flooding, impacting several communities. The Tha Sai Luat Subdistrict Municipality reported…
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Lopburi Municipality captures 150 monkeys in new operation
Lopburi Municipality captured over 150 monkeys in the first two days of a new operation aimed at controlling the monkey population in the city. The goal is to capture at least 500 monkeys within 10 days, with support from 12 military personnel from the 13th Military Circle. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), in collaboration with…
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Invasive fish in Thailand causes 100 million baht annual damage
Thammasat University research reveals that the blackchin tilapia has caused economic damage to the Praek Nam Daeng community, amounting to at least 100 million baht per year. The SROI TU Centre for Social Return on Investment Research and Development recently posted a study detailing these impacts. The research, conducted between 2018 and 2019 by SROI TU, part of the Puey…
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CPF no show slammed as blackchin tilapia talk goes fishy
Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) faced criticism from a House committee for failing to attend a meeting to address questions regarding the importation of blackchin tilapia for research purposes back in 2010. The Move Forward Party MP for Bangkok, Nattacha Boonchaiinsawat, who also serves as the deputy chairman of the subcommittee investigating the spread of the invasive species, stated that CPF…
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Pullman Phuket Panwa Beach Resort puts sustainability at its heart
The term sustainability is often thrown around as a buzzword in the hospitality industry, but at Pullman Phuket Panwa Beach Resort, it’s genuinely part of their mission. Located in Makham Bay, just south of Phuket Town, the beautiful resort puts sustainable practices into action that benefit both the environment and the local community through their EcoHarmony Initiative. In fact, their…
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Mooring buoys installed off Koh Hei to protect coral reefs
Rawai Municipality and the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) Region Third Area Command at Cape Panwa spearheaded an initiative yesterday to install more mooring buoys off Koh Hei (Coral Island). The event, held to honour His Majesty the King’s 72nd birthday this Sunday, July 28, was led by Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos and Rear Admiral Suchat Thammapitakwet, Commander of the RTN…
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Sri Racha cleans up for King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s birthday
Sri Racha Municipality organised a large-scale cleaning initiative yesterday to honour the upcoming birthday of His Royal Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn. The event, led by Sri Racha Mayor Chatchai Timkrachang, took place at the municipal office and Sri Racha Park. Participants, including municipal officials, council members, teachers, students, the general public, and local volunteer groups, gathered yesterday morning, July 24,…
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Residents squeal in protest as pig farm stinks up Chon Buri canal
Hundreds of residents in Chon Buri‘s Phanat Nikhom district gathered yesterday to protest against a major pig farm, accusing it of polluting a local canal and causing a persistent foul odour for several years. The demonstration, which began at 11am, yesterday, July 24, saw villagers from Village 6, Village 9, and Village 10 coming together to voice their frustrations. The…
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Invasive fish species wreak havoc on Samut Prakan shrimp farms
Farmers in Samut Prakan are facing severe losses due to the infiltration of blackchin tilapia and Mayan cichlid into their shrimp ponds. These invasive fish species have been causing significant damage to the local aquaculture industry. At a shrimp farm owned by Adisorn Chansuksawat, located in Village 7, Klong Dan subdistrict, Bang Bo district, the presence of blackchin tilapia and…
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Phuket canal blackened by boat engine soot, not oil spill
Black water in Klong Tha Jeen, located on the east side of Phuket Town, was traced back to soot from a boat engine, according to the Phuket Marine Office. The incident occurred yesterday when soot from the engine of a boat named Jovana caused black water to appear on the canal’s surface. A tip-off was received around 11am, yesterday, July…
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Tilapia trouble: Thailand orders crackdown on invasive fish invasion
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin directed the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry to intensify efforts to curb the spread of blackchin tilapia, an invasive species now pervasive in Thailand’s waterways. The 62 year old prime minister tasked the ministry with investigating how this species, originally from West Africa, has managed to proliferate so widely across the country. Following these instructions, Agriculture and…
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Bangkok plans 130 new parks, doubles tree goal by 2026
Bangkok is taking a bold step towards sustainability under the leadership of Governor Chadchart Sittipunt. Moving past the Green Bangkok 2030 initiative, the governor has set his sights on an ambitious environmental agenda. Chadchart’s vision includes creating a 15-minute city with accessible green spaces. The plan involves adding 130 parks and doubling the tree-planting goal to two million by 2026,…
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Heavy rains trigger flash floods and mudslides in Ubon Ratchathani
Heavy rains battered Ubon Ratchathani throughout the night, causing flash floods and mudslides that damaged over 100 homes and swept away personal belongings. Early today, July 21, officials reported that the situation had stabilised but left significant damage behind. Relentless rain pounded Ubon Ratchathani province overnight, leading to flash floods and mudslides from the mountain ranges. This natural disaster inundated…
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Thailand to investigate blackchin tilapia surge within seven days
Thailand’s Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry tasked the Fisheries Department with a seven-day deadline to determine the cause behind the surge in the blackchin tilapia population. Prayoon Inskul, permanent secretary for the ministry, announced yesterday, July 20, that a comprehensive plan has been devised to address the outbreak affecting 16 provinces. The initial strategy involves a committee working to control the…
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Samut Sakhon releases one million prawns for river conservation
Samut Sakhon released one million black tiger prawns into the Tha Chin River to bolster aquatic populations and maintain ecological balance. The event took place at 11am yesterday, July 17, led by Samut Sakhon Governor Phon Damthornom, alongside local officials, civil servants, and residents. The ceremony was held in honour of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s 72nd birthday, marking six…
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One missing during Maha Sarakham reservoir breach flooding
A significant breach at the Huay Chiang Kham Reservoir in Maha Sarakham led to the release of several million cubic metres of water on Tuesday, affecting vast agricultural areas and resulting in one person missing. Local officials reported that the incident impacted 10,000 rai of farmland across four subdistricts in the northeastern province. The breach, which occurred at 5pm, created…
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Floods disrupt Khon Kaen, submerging homes across two districts
Floodwaters have inundated Khon Kaen province, particularly affecting the districts of Mancha Khiri and Ban Phai, with the intense rainfall submerging homes up to their roofs. Route 2062 in Mancha Khiri, near the Suan Mon area of the Suan Mon sub-district, today, July 17, was submerged due to overflow from the Chi Rong Canal, extending for over 300 metres. Additionally,…
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Thailand to explore small nuclear reactors for clean energy boost
Energy Ministry officials are set to assess the feasibility of developing small nuclear power plants as part of the updated power development plan (PDP). This initiative aims to increase the use of clean energy and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The technology under consideration is the small modular reactor (SMR), which can generate up to 300 megawatts per unit (MW), roughly…
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Similan Islands national park’s plea for hermit crab homes
Mu Ko Similan National Park in Phang Nga province is sounding the alarm and calling on the public to donate shells to provide new homes for hermit crabs. This urgent campaign aims to boost the crab population and enhance marine biodiversity. Hermit crabs are vital beach cleaners, eliminating bacteria and disease to maintain the park’s ecosystem. Due to their soft…
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Bangkok governor goes fishing for answers over fish deaths
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt inspected Bueng Makkasan in Ratchathewi district following a large number of fish deaths, suspected to be caused by oxygen depletion and expressed concern over the potential spread of the blackchin tilapia to other areas. Chadchart visited Bueng Makkasan in the Ratchathewi district today to investigate the mass fish deaths in the area. Local fishers reported that…
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King Vajiralongkorn supports sustainable farming and welfare
King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua has consistently demonstrated his commitment to the agricultural sector, recognising its vital role in the national economy since his days as Crown Prince. His Majesty has undertaken numerous initiatives aimed at improving the livelihoods of farmers throughout the country. These initiatives have not only strengthened the bond between farmers and the monarch but also frequently…
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Mekong power play sparks concerns: Dam contract makes waves
Conservationists and residents of the Mekong Basin are urging the Thai government to reconsider signing a contract to purchase electricity from the Pak Beng Hydropower Dam in Laos, citing potential economic and territorial losses. An open letter addressed to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and Energy Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga captured the concerns, with signatures from Thongsuk Inthawong, former headman of Bann…
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Chumphon’s rosewood row: Locals prickled by illegal tree cutting
Residents of Chumphon raised concerns over the unauthorised cutting of five large rosewood trees, aged 20 years, by a local community leader. The trees were sold to a private investor for a substantial sum without government approval. The community leader, alongside locals, allegedly used chainsaws to fell the rosewood trees located in the Tha Sae district, selling them to a…
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Samut Sakhon release 90,000 Asian seabass, targets invasive fish
Samut Sakhon officials launched an operation to release 90,000 barramundis (Asian seabass) to combat the invasive blackchin tilapia. The first release is scheduled for tomorrow, July 12, with a focus on introducing large-sized barramundis into the local waterways. A senior fisheries officer in Samut Sakhon, Niran Promkruan revealed the operation, with the initiative marking a significant step in using the…
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