The National News Bureau of Thailand quoted ONEP DeputySecretary-General Noppadol Thiyajai as saying that wetlands cover anarea of approximately 3.5 million hectares nationwide, which account for7.5 percent of the total area of Thailand . The majority of wetlandsin the country are now facing deterioration as they become more shallowand smaller in area. This is due to the public’s lack of understandingin the importance of wetlands.
Noppadol commentedthat the idea to dredge wetlands to build flood retaining basins toprevent and solve the problem of flooding must take into account theecological and hydrological systems of wetlands, which are home to alarge diversity of plants and animal species.
TheWorld Wetlands Day, which falls on 2 February of every year, aims toraise awareness among the public on the importance of preserving wetlandecological systems, which are an essential resource for ruralcommunities ./.