ABSTRACT
The rapid economic growth in Thailand was mainly due to the explosive development of manufacturing industries, tourism, and direct foreign investment over the past few decades. However, the haphazard and opportunistic industrialization not only has produced many adverse social and economic effects, but also has had dramatic environmental costs, many of which are unfortunately irreversible. According to Komin (1993), Thailand’s environmental problems are very serious, including all sorts of pollution from industrial wastes, widespread deforestation, depletion of mineral resources, and encroachment on national parks and wildlife.
