14.5.2 Monitoring the health of aquatic ecosystems
Metric: Maintaining a local ecosystem
Monitor the health of aquatic ecosystems
Monitoring the health of the aquatic ecosystem in the Gulf of Thailand
Dr. Prakrit Noppradit, a researcher from Coastal Oceanography and Climate Change Research Center, Faculty of Environmental Management, Prince of Songkla University joined the SATREPS project to conduct research on Marine debris in the Gulf of Thailand from April 3-9, 2024 in the MV SEAFDEC2 ship. This research project collaborated with the Center of Ocean Plastics Studies, Kyushu University, Chulalongkorn University, the Department of Fisheries, the Department of Pollution Control, and the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources.
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Monitoring Seagrass Ecosystem Health: A Nature-Based Solution for Climate Change
Assoc. Prof. Ponlachart Chotikarn, leading the project "The Feasibility and Efficiency Enhancement of Seagrass Species for CO₂ Sequestration in Thailand," is conducting essential work to monitor the health of the seagrass ecosystem in the Andaman Sea as a crucial nature-based solution to climate change.
Supported by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), this two-year initiative focuses on the seagrass beds around Pu Island, Krabi.
The project integrates advanced science and technology to monitor and enhance the health of the seagrass ecosystem. Comprehensive studies were conducted on factors affecting seagrass survival, which led to a deeper understanding of the overall ecosystem’s health and resilience. The research rigorously analyzed seven local seagrass species to identify the most effective for carbon sequestration. Monitoring this "blue carbon" capacity is a direct measure of the ecosystem’s ecological function and its vital role in climate change mitigation. A new, low-cost, solar-powered nursery system was engineered to improve seagrass growth and survival rates. The project’s entire structure is designed to restore marine ecosystems while simultaneously empowering the local community to become long-term stewards.