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Climate change: Rising heat in Europe and Central Asia/Sustainability: Transforming Thai Tourism/Energy: Hydrogen energy production in Thailand/Electric vehicles: NETA X Launched in Thailand/Wildlife: Blackchin Tilapia Invasion/GEF support for tigers/Tigers are disappearing from Southeast Asia/Thai harmony for wild elephants/’Crab bank’ sanctuaries/Protecting rare marine species/
Rising heat in Europe and Central Asia kills nearly 400 children annually: Unicef
Rising temperatures across Europe and Central Asia killed an estimated 377 children in 2021 – according to a new analysis of data from 23 countries published today by Unicef.
Beat the heat: child health amid heatwaves in Europe and Central Asia finds that half of these children died from heat-related illnesses in their first year of life. Most children died during the summer months. Continued …
Transforming Thai Tourism: Amazing Green Fest 2024
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), in collaboration with The Cloud, will host the Amazing Green Fest 2024 and The Hotelier 2024 forum to promote sustainable tourism by inviting travelers to embark on their journeys with responsibility.
The events aim to support organizations involved in tourism to enhance their responsibility to society and the environment, increasing opportunities and understanding toward a balanced well-being with nature. The events will be held from Aug. 15-18 at Paragon Hall, Siam Paragon, Bangkok. Continued …
Saudi Arabia ready to invest in hydrogen energy production in Thailand
Saudi Arabia is now focusing on future energy sources and is considering investing in this sector in Thailand, particularly hydrogen energy, Energy Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga said on Friday following his recent visit to Riyadh. The Thai delegation held discussions with Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud.
The meeting also included leading business organizations from Saudi Arabia, such as Saudi Aramco, a leading global oil company, SABIC, a major global chemical producer, ACWA Power, an electricity production business, and SEEC, the agency overseeing energy production and usage efficiency in Saudi Arabia. Continued …
Chinese EV-maker NETA X Has Officially Launched in Thailand
NETA Auto, a Chinese new energy vehicle, has made significant strides in the Southeast Asian market. The latest generation of its all-electric SUV, the NETA X, has been officially launched in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, marking an acceleration of NETA Auto’s global strategy in the region.
At the launch event, representatives from NETA Auto, local government officials, business partners, media friends, and industry representatives jointly witnessed the successful debut of the NETA X in Malaysia and Thailand. This event underscores NETA Auto’s commitment to the Southeast Asian market and signals its proactive participation in driving the green mobility revolution in the region. Continued …
Blackchin Tilapia Invasion Threatens Southeast Asia’s Ecosystems
Concerns are mounting within the Thai government as the blackchin tilapia, an invasive predator fish, could spread from Thailand to neighboring countries, posing an ecological crisis. MPs warned that the tilapia invasion might soon become a transnational issue affecting Cambodia and Malaysia.
In a recent House floor debate, Move Forward MP Natcha Boonchai-insawat highlighted the rapid and destructive spread of blackchin tilapia in coastal and mangrove waters across 17 Thai provinces. Not native to the region, this “alien species” preys on local fish, shrimps, and other small aquatic animals, disrupting ecosystems and impacting local fisheries. Continued …
GEF support for tigers is helping entire ecosystems
Wild tigers are unique to Asia and play an important role in the cultures and traditions of the continent. But while their power and charisma are revered, illegal hunting, poaching, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflict have slashed wild tiger populations – from around 100,000 at the end of the 19th century to around 5,000 today.
Protecting remaining wild tigers is critical for the health of all the ecosystems they inhabit – this is why tigers and their landscapes are a focus of the Global Environment Facility’s support for biodiversity conservation in much of Asia. Continued …
Tigers are disappearing from Southeast Asia. A forest in Thailand is offering new hope
As Global Tiger Day rolls around, there’s good news for the big cats in Thailand. The tiger population in the country’s Western Forest Complex (WEFCOM) — an 18,000-square-kilometer (6,950-square-mile) area of forest encompassing 11 national parks and six wildlife sanctuaries — is estimated to have more than tripled between 2007 and 2023, from 41 to 143.
The remarkable comeback was observed in a new collaborative study led by Thailand’s Department of National Parks (DNP) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), newly published online in the scientific journal Global Ecology and Conservation. Continued …
Thai harmony for wild elephants and locals alike
The Eastern Forest Complex is regarded as the most important low-lying forest landscape in the central region of Thailand. Covering more than 1.363 million rai in five provinces, namely Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Rayong, Chon Buri and Sa Kaeo, the complex is home to two wildlife sanctuaries and three national parks.
It’s also home to over 600 wildlife species, including 450 wild elephants, which have an annual population growth of 8.2% – the highest in the country. Continued …
Local community helps researchers create ‘crab bank’ sanctuaries
Blue swimming crabs, once plentiful in the Ban Don Bay off the east coast of Thailand, are a crucial part of the local community’s livelihoods. These crabs account for 80% of the locals’ income, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) reports, but because of the high catch rates, the blue swimming crab population has been dwindling.
Local fisher Sutham Hemmanee noticed the problem, and female blue swimming crabs with the potential to produce millions of offspring were still being hunted, so he decided to do something about it. Continued …
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.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Pachara Wongsoonsawat has shown significant concern for the rare marine species in the Andaman Sea, prompting the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources to conduct comprehensive surveys. Continued …