| Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand | |
|---|---|
| Agency name | Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand |
| Native name | กระทรวงทรัพยากรธรรมชาติและสิ่งแวดล้อม |
| Formed | 2002 |
| Preceding1 | Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment |
| Jurisdiction | Kingdom of Thailand |
| Headquarters | Bangkok |
| Minister1 name | (See list of ministers) |
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand is a Thai cabinet-level institution responsible for stewardship of Chao Phraya River, Phang Nga Bay, Khao Yai National Park, Hua Hin coastal zones and the country's terrestrial and marine natural assets; it evolved from predecessors such as the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment and coordinates with agencies including the Royal Forest Department (Thailand), Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (Thailand), and Pollution Control Department (Thailand). The ministry's remit spans conservation, resource management, pollution control and climate policy, engaging with international actors like the United Nations Environment Programme, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and regional bodies such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
The ministry was formed in 2002 amid administrative reforms following precedents set by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (Thailand), reflecting shifts after events such as the 1997 Asian financial crisis and policy responses influenced by outcomes of the Rio Earth Summit and the Kyoto Protocol negotiations; its institutional roots trace to earlier agencies created during the reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and institutional reforms under successive prime ministers including Thaksin Shinawatra and Abhisit Vejjajiva. Historical drivers include environmental disasters like the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami affecting Phang Nga Province and controversies over projects such as the Pak Mun Dam and debates involving stakeholders like Royal Thai Navy and civil society groups exemplified by Sathorachi-era activism and the Greenpeace interventions in Thai forestry. Over time the ministry incorporated functions from bodies responsible for forestry, geological surveys such as the Department of Mineral Resources (Thailand), and protected area management like Doi Inthanon National Park.
The ministry comprises departments and agencies such as the Royal Forest Department (Thailand), Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (Thailand), Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (Thailand), Department of Mineral Resources (Thailand), Pollution Control Department (Thailand), and research units aligned with universities like Chulalongkorn University and Kasetsart University. Administrative leadership combines a political minister appointed by the Prime Minister of Thailand and permanent secretaries drawn from elite civil service cohorts linked to institutions such as the Civil Service Commission (Thailand). Regional offices coordinate with provincial authorities including Chiang Mai Province and Songkhla Province and with state enterprises and foundations such as the Royal Irrigation Department (Thailand) on issues crossing mandates like watershed management in the Mae Klong River basin.
Core functions involve management of protected areas including Erawan National Park, forest conservation via the Community Forests Program, oversight of mining and mineral exploration linked to Tin mining in Thailand, regulation of pollution through standards comparable to those advocated by the World Health Organization, and implementation of climate mitigation and adaptation commitments under instruments such as the Paris Agreement. The ministry issues permits and enforces environmental impact assessments required by statutes like national environmental laws, liaises with conservation NGOs such as World Wide Fund for Nature and IUCN, and administers biodiversity programs tied to species listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
Legislative frameworks administered by the ministry include acts and regulations emanating from the National Assembly of Thailand and ministries historically influenced by rulings of the Constitutional Court of Thailand; key instruments address protected area designation, pollution control, hazardous substances and mining licensing, and implement obligations under treaties like the Convention on Biological Diversity. Policy initiatives have intersected with national planning exercises such as the National Economic and Social Development Plan (Thailand) and have been contested in public debates involving actors like the National Human Rights Commission (Thailand) and environmental litigation before courts in Bangkok.
Major programs include reforestation and afforestation campaigns collaborating with groups such as the Royal Forest Department and community networks, coastal rehabilitation in post-tsunami reconstruction involving the Thai Red Cross Society, mangrove restoration projects coordinated with UNEP and local NGOs, and marine conservation initiatives establishing marine protected areas and engaging with fisheries stakeholders including the Department of Fisheries (Thailand). Technical initiatives encompass geological mapping by the Department of Mineral Resources (Thailand), air quality monitoring by the Pollution Control Department (Thailand), and public education campaigns in partnership with universities and media outlets such as Thai PBS.
The ministry represents Thailand in multilateral forums including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, Convention on Biological Diversity, and regional mechanisms like the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity. It collaborates with bilateral partners such as the United States Agency for International Development, Japan International Cooperation Agency, and European Union on projects in areas including coastal resilience, climate finance under instruments related to the Green Climate Fund, and technical assistance in areas like geological hazard assessment and transboundary pollution mitigation involving neighbors such as Myanmar and Cambodia.
Category:Government ministries of Thailand Category:Environmental organisations based in Thailand