TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessment of wetland ecosystem health in Lower Songkhram, Thailand
AU - Muangthong, Somphinith
AU - Clemente, Roberto S.
AU - Babel, Mukand Singh
AU - Gallardo, Wenresti
AU - Weesakul, Sutat
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors thank the Department of Survey Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Rajamangala University of Technology, Isan and the Wetland Alliance for financial assistance.
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - A study was conducted to assess the ecosystem health of Lower Songkhram wetland in Thailand, using a newly developed wetland ecosystem health index (WEHI) based on analysis of field survey and secondary data of the most dominant physical, environmental and socio-economic factors extracted by principal components analysis (PCA). The most influential physical, environmental and socio-economic factors identified were rainfall and awareness and participation of the local community, which had positive effects, whereas soil electrical conductivity (EC), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and urban development had negative effects. Based on the results, 9 of the 40 land units of the study area were in very good or good health, 11 in reasonable health, while 20 were found to be in poor or even very poor condition. These findings will be useful for decision-makers in planning and executing an effective and holistic strategy to prevent further wetland degradation.
AB - A study was conducted to assess the ecosystem health of Lower Songkhram wetland in Thailand, using a newly developed wetland ecosystem health index (WEHI) based on analysis of field survey and secondary data of the most dominant physical, environmental and socio-economic factors extracted by principal components analysis (PCA). The most influential physical, environmental and socio-economic factors identified were rainfall and awareness and participation of the local community, which had positive effects, whereas soil electrical conductivity (EC), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and urban development had negative effects. Based on the results, 9 of the 40 land units of the study area were in very good or good health, 11 in reasonable health, while 20 were found to be in poor or even very poor condition. These findings will be useful for decision-makers in planning and executing an effective and holistic strategy to prevent further wetland degradation.
KW - Lower Songkhram wetland
KW - Thailand
KW - principal components analysis (PCA)
KW - wetland ecosystem health
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U2 - 10.1080/13504509.2011.620643
DO - 10.1080/13504509.2011.620643
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84861428325
SN - 1350-4509
VL - 19
SP - 238
EP - 246
JO - International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology
JF - International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology
IS - 3
ER -
