Chiang Mai’s Doi Chiang Dao declared new UNESCO biosphere reserve

[snoop1130]

This photograph taken on November 1, 2020 shows tourists visiting the Chiang Dao caves complex, which goes on for more than 10km and contains shrines, statues and Buddha images, located some 70km north of Chiang Mai. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP

 

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has approved Thailand’s Doi Chiang Dao in the northern province of Chiang Mai as a new biosphere reserve, the fifth of its kind in the kingdom.

 

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa announced today (Thursday) that the approval was given by UNESCO’s The International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere programme during an online meeting on Wednesday in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, held to review 12 international areas, including Doi Chiang Dao, for listing as biosphere reserves in 2021.

 

He said that the Doi Chiang Dao is the prototype model of the sufficiency economy philosophy, eco-tourism and cultural development, which encompasses innovations and technology beneficial to people in the localities and Chiang Mai province, adding that it testifies to the balanced and sustainable co-existence between men and forests.

 

Full Story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/chiang-mais-doi-chiang-dao-declared-new-unesco-biosphere-reserve/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-09-16

 

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[hotchilli]

Is it visible when the smoke clears?

[Antonymous]

A big cheer for Chiang Dao, the most beautiful area in Chiang Mai and one of the best in all of Thailand.

 

From the UNESCO site:

 

Doi Chiang Dao Biosphere Reserve is located in Chiang Dao District of Chiang Mai Province in Thailand. It is the only region in the country to be covered with sub-alpine vegetation, found also in the Himalayas and in the southern part of China. Many rare, endangered or vulnerable species live in the 85,909.04 ha biosphere reserve, such as the Lar Gibbon (Hylobates lar), leaf monkey (Trachypithecus phayrei), Chinese Goral (Naemorhedus griseus), Tiger (Panthera tigris), or Clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa).

The landscape abounds with caves formed by the infiltration of rain water through limestone formations. The largest and most important of these is Chiang Dao Cave, from which the biosphere reserve takes its name. The cave is associated with the legend of Chao Luang Chiang Dao, the king of all spirits, who is believed to reside in the towering Doi Chiang Dao mountain; both are revered as sacred places. A Buddhist temple in the Lanna style marks the entrance of the cave. The cave and mountain attract many visitors each year, and a model for visitor impact management was implemented. Ecotourism, birdwatching and stargazing are further local tourist attractions.

Agriculture using a traditional gravity-based irrigation system called Maung Fai is a notable activity in the site, where local practices and knowledge have been maintained over almost 800 years.
 

https://en.unesco.org/news/unesco-steps-efforts-biodiversity-conservation-designation-20-new-biosphere-reserves

[rudi49jr]

3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Is it visible when the smoke clears?

That was going to be my reaction as well. Does it mean they are going to do something about the burning and endless smog for months on end in the winter?

[PETERTHEEATER]

5 hours ago, Antonymous said:

Agriculture using a traditional gravity-based irrigation system called Maung Fai is a notable activity in the site,

A.k.a water flowing downhill.........

[captainjackS]

On 9/17/2021 at 1:40 PM, PETERTHEEATER said:

A.k.a water flowing downhill.........

exactly.  Convenient for the farms that are all downhill from the mountain.   Not so convenient for the residential village that has insufficient stormwater drainage.  Thinking optimistically, the UNESCO recognition could bring some infrastructure improvements to the village surrounding the cave to support the increased tourists / traffic and reduce negative impact of waste that will otherwise be disposed / burned locally.