Thailand - Country Profile (Biodiversity)

Threats to biodiversity in Thailand include illegal hunting, crop and forest burning, livestock overgrazing, forest clearance/illegal logging, destructive fishing practices, disturbance caused by tourism and transportation activities, environmental pollution, forest fires, introduction of invasive alien species, coral bleaching and the loss of wetlands. The threats to biodiversity differ from one ecosystem to another. In regard to forest ecosystems, the shrinking of habitats for local plants and animals due to urbanization has resulted in the loss of indigenous plant and animal species. Urban and industrial growth has led to a critical decrease in (and deterioration of) agricultural ecosystems. Coastal ecosystems are threatened by illegal logging, overfishing, community settlement, industrialization and tourism development. Biodiversity ecosystems located near tourist attractions are threatened by rubbish, pollution, boat anchors and the collection of seashell and ornamental fish. In the past decade, overfishing and the deconstruction of coastal habitats, such as the mangrove forest, have reduced the quantity of marine animals available from natural sources. Notably, the amount of shell fished in the past ten years has declined by 70%. As a result, most of the large marine fish, such as shark, sawfish and ray, are now vulnerable.