Rivers in jeopardy and the role of civil society in river restoration: Thai experiences
2004
Wasan Jompakdee(Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai (Thailand). Faculty of Engineering. Department of Mechanical Engineering) E-mail:[email protected]
Despite the traditional belief and respect in the goddess of Mother River (Pra Mae Kong Ka), all rivers in Thailand have been poorly managed and treated. River systems have been dramatically altered by land use developments, construction, channelization, pollution, encroachment, dams and reservoirs, etc. There has been a reduction in landscape quality, loss of wilderness areas and aesthetic beauty of natural rivers has vanished. Some species of flora and fauna have disappeared, exotic species have invaded, and the functional characteristics of the river system have been disrupted. Moreover, the headwater areas in upper watersheds which are the sources of our rivers and streams have been seriously degraded and misused. In response to the need to save our rivers and their environments, the members of local communities partake their responsibilities in protecting and restoring their rivers. This paper describes the case study on the efforts directed to the application of engineering principles to the development of environmentally-sensitive approaches and the role of civil society using indigenous knowledge for managing and restoring the Ping River and its headwaters in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. The new policies of the Government in the conservation and development of river and canal environment are also discussed.
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