Surin, Similan To Be Named 'Asian Heritage' Areas

[george]

Surin, Similan archipeligos to be named 'Asian Heritage' areas

BANGKOK: -- The nearly pristine Surin and Similan archipelagos off southern Thailand's Phang-nga province will be proposed as ASEAN heritage sites.

National Parks, Wildlife and Conservative Department deputy director general Chawal Thanhikorn said his agency will ask UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) to consider registering the maritime tourist spots as an ASEAN heritage.

In the meantime, Thailand will host a major international conference on biological diversities of forests and wildlife August 21-24 at the Regent Cha-am Hotel in Petchaburi province, Mr. Chawal said.

Topping the agenda are Thailand's ecological system--involving semi-alpine mountainous areas and agreements on preserving biological diversity, international trade of endangered wildlife and plants, on watersheds, and on the protection of world heritages and climatical changes, among other topics.

--TNA 2005-08-17

[sriracha john]

Let's hope this additional recognition will preserve Thailand's reportedly only remaining true coral reefs....

[khall64au]

Let's hope the additional exposure may limit the rapid growth of dive and tour boats flocking to these areas or provide stricter guardianship and preservation enforcement.