Running Head: Biodiversity and Cultural Diversity in Thailand 1

Biodiversity and Cultural Diversity in Thailand Christa Maxson 4/16/2014 GCU 114

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Thailand is a fairly small country, but yet it has rich biodiversity across their beautiful land. Once in the past 70 percent of the land consisted of covered with tropical rain forests providing various complex ecosystems for many inhabitants. Among this biodiversity Thailand obtains, the local community has been influenced by many biological communities and the development of their traditional knowledge, folklore and cultural diversity. These influences has been traditional passed down generation to generation in Thai cultures. This practise has been going on for many centuries and the Thai people maintain a sustainable balance with their land until the 1960s. In the 1960, the Thai government had release their very first National Economic and Social Development plan. Thus modernizing their peaceful living to modeling industry influences and globalization trends. In return these developments have caused biodiversity loss in which lead to deforestation, environmental climate changes, endangered species and global warming. Since the tremendous loss of biodiversity, it has inversely affected the Thai people. The Thai society depends on their land as an essential resources for human survival. Thai people often rely on fungi, plants and animals as a source for agricultural products, traditional medicines, shelter, tools and clothing. As well as relying on the climate itself, it provides benefits such as water in the atmosphere, rivers, soil and more. There various climates form large various of vegetation, spices and fruit that occur naturally or in a cultivated field. Many of the food produced are included in Thai cuisine, in fact, is recognized across the world for their culinary achievements. Sadly, the development of modernized Thai settlements and the relation with the natural biological world has been recently taken for granted. The Thai people have live very peacefully and sparingly with the environment for over 400 years. Until 1960, the Thailand government formulated a plan of National Economic and Social Development. because of this plan and its increase use of the land. Thailand in result of

Running Head: Biodiversity and Cultural Diversity in Thailand 3 this plan, has suffered a large amount of biodiversity and bioresources over the course of about 50 years. Thailand forests made a dramatic drop from covering once 70 percent of the land to 25 percent today. The various habitats have declined also in the result of deforestation, industrial pollutions, dams, canalization and shoreline obliteration. Since the widespread loss in biodiversity both terrestrial and aquatic habitats have suffered due to human-caused changes.These human activities included deforestation, clearcutting, unregulated logging, and hunting for food. Many of these species have become endangered and risk extinction if these trends not decreasing. For an example the birds of Thailand, which is a major part in their biodiversity. Among the known 946 bird found in Thailand, 7 birds spiece have gone extinct, 37 of them are critical 69 species have become endangered and 248 species are vulnerable. This example displays many of the situations of other Thailand species due to loss of habitats from human activities. The Thailand government has taking recent steps to preserve both biodiversity and cultural diversity in their country. It was first cause by the lack of consciousness and awareness of their environment in persevering resources for future generations. Now many government agencies are considering the loss of biodiversity and development activities that focus on the wastefully destroy biological resources. Currently, Thailand protect their environment by hosting protected areas covering 20% of the total land. Their efforts to persevere biodiversity include twenty-six marines national parks, thirteen wetland of international importance, two natural world heritage site and four biosphere reserves. These various organizations are still working towards a more sustainable future for Thailand. Thailand as one of the worlds largest distributors of fish products, they heavily rely on this lucrative business. Efforts for making a shift in more sustainable seafood by engaging corporations and raising consumer awareness of the aquatic life. Also, organizations are promoting environmentally friendly practises. In result promoting awareness in urbanized cities to practise conservation methods to preserve their land and culture.

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References

Abhabhirama A, Phantumvanit D, Elkington J, Ingkasuwan P, 1987. Thailand Natural Resources Profile. Thailand Development Research Institute, Bangkok. Thailand Country Study on Biodiversity, 1992. Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, Bangkok. Retrieved from: http://www.royin.go.th/upload/246/FileUpload/2560_7631.pdf Anderson EF, 1993. Plants and People of the Golden Triangle: Ethnobotany of the Hill Tribes of Northern Thailand. Silkworm Books, Chiang Mai, Thailand Retrieved from: http://www.royin.go.th/upload/246/FileUpload/2560_7631.pdf Lekagul B, Round PD, 1991. A Guide to the Birds of Thailand. Darnsutha Press, Bangkok. Retrieved from: http://www.royin.go.th/upload/246/FileUpload/2560_7631.pdf WWF- Thailand, 2013. WWF-Thailand Biodiversity, Ecosystems, and Sustainability. World Fund for Nature, Bangkok. Retrieved from:http://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/wwf_thailand_english_final.pdf