| 7 |
Ensure
Environmental Sustainability |
TARGET
9: Implement national strategies for sustainable
development by 2005, to reverse loss of environmental resources
by 2015 |
STATUS |
*
Declining proportion of forested areas.
* Parks and conservation areas are classified as either totally
protected areas or partially protected areas.
* The total protected land area was 5-.68 million hectares
or 26.4% of the total land area of the country.
* With decentralization and regional autonomy, more and more
forests are being exploited, illegal logging has become rampant
and the boundaries of protected areas are being ignored.
* Decreasing energy efficiency.
* Over the next 2 decades, gas emissions are expected to grow
by about 3% a year.
From 1992 to 1998, the use of chlorofluorocarbons fluctuated.
* Weak control of ozone depleting substances.
*
The biomass cooking fuels used in the country are firewood
and charcoal, but the percentage of households using them
decreased from 1989 to 2001.
|
*
Despite being one of the 17 mega-diversified countries in
the world with its high concentration of endemic plants and
wildlife, the country has been identified by the Conservation
International as one of the “eight hottest spots in the world”
where exceptional concentration of endemic species are undergoing
continuous loss of habitat. |
*
Loss of forest continues despite increased conservation efforts.
Deforestation slowed down but total forest coverage dropped
from 28% to 25.3% between 1989 and 1998.
* Legal protection and better management practices were put
in place.
* Between 1990 and 2001, energy consumption per GDP increased
from 15.7to 15.9 kg oil equivalent per 1,000 Baht.
* The 2003 national energy strategy aims to increase the share
of renewable energy in the commercial primary energy from
.5% in 2002 to 8% by 2011.
* Biomass is still a relatively untapped energy source.
*
Carbon dioxide emissions remain stable. Estimates indicate
that carbon dioxide emission has averaged about 2.4 metric
tons per capita between 1990 and 2001.
* There is a big reduction in use of ozone depleting chemicals.
There is a significant reduction in the use of CFCs from .1
kilogram to .06 kilogram per capita between 1990 and 2000.
* Wood and charcoal fuel use halved. The proportion of the
population cooking with charcoal and fuel wood dropped from
66% to 31% between 1990 and 2002.
*
An increasing number of major rivers were monitored for water
quality, and there were signs of improvement.
* Municipal and industrial waste management has become an
environmental problem.
|
CHALLENGES |
*
Economic crisis and reform.
*
Decentralization.
*
Globalization and governance. |
*
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
has set its priorities in attaining environmental stability.
These include sustainable management and protection of forests;
conservation of bio-diversity; cleaning the air; saving inland,
coastal and marine resources; solving the garbage crisis;
urban greening; and development of sustainable energy sources. |
*
Close monitoring of all action plans.
*
Developing policy-making tools.
*
Creating an active high-level policy forum.
*
Strengthening the capacity of provincial and local administrative
organizations. |
| TARGET
10: Halve
by 2015 the proportion of people without sustainable access
to safe drinking water |
STATUS |
Water
* Non-compliance with drinking water standards.
* Lack of government priority.
*
Lack of reliable routine data.
*
Poor coverage and quality of water supply services.
*
High levels of unaccounted for water or water leakage.
* Investments required for drinking water.
* Limited involvement of the private sector.
* Deteriorating quality and quantity of primary water resources.
* Low levels of community awareness.
*
Potential for community participation.
Sanitation
* Access to basic sanitation is around 64%.
* Lack of government priority.
* Half of the urban population is still using water from deep
or shallow wells or from water vendors.
* Groundwater pollution by human excreta is widespread in
Jakarta due to shallow wells.
|
*
From 1960 to present, there has been an increase in households
with access to safe drinking water at an average rate of 2%
increase yearly.
* It is likely that the 87% access goal can be met by 2015.
* There has been a modest improvement in water supply coverage
since 1988.
|
The
proportion of population having access to safe drinking water
increased from 1990 to 2000.
*
The increase in access to safe drinking water was more prominent
in rural areas from 76% to 91%.
* Survey shows that piped water in Bangkok meets official
quality standards.
*
However, those living in rural areas have slightly lower quality
drinking water.
* From 1990 to 2000, the proportion of households using a
sanitary latrine increased from 86% to 98%.
* Slum communities have also achieved 99% access, except for
those in some southern provinces where the rate remained at
94%.
|
CHALLENGES |
Water
* Agreement is needed on the quality of water supplied to
communities and on compliance with safe drinking water standards.
* Regional drinking water companies (PDAMs) need to increase
the independence of management to operate efficiently and
improve accountability.
* Ensuring that planning is linked to demand; mobilize funds
through investment, government budget allocations or through
setting rates; improve service quality to communities; promote
health and hygiene among communities.
* A budget of Rupiah 42.8 trillion up to 2015, or Rupiah 3.3
trillion a year is needed to increase the supply capacity
for drinking water services.
More
community involvement is needed.
* A valid and accurate database for both urban and rural areas
is needed to measure progress towards MDG involvement.
Sanitation
*
Improving the quality of sanitation facilities to meet technical
and health standards.
* Raising awareness among communities on health and hygiene
issues and the importance of using proper latrines. |
*
Disparities across regions.
* Deterioration in quantity and quality of water resources.
*
Low level of investment.
|
*
Improve quality of drinking water at the local level.
* Better access to piped water.
|
| TARGET
11: By 2020, to have achieved a significant improvement in the lives of
at least 100 million slum dwellers |
STATUS |
*
83% of households own or rent their homes. The remaining 17%
still do not have secure tenure.
* To meet the population growth, the government estimates
an at least 1.2 million housing units.
* ¼ of the housings in the country are of poor quality.
* There is an increase of slum areas from 38.053 hectares
in 1996 to 47,393 in 1999.
*
Institutional capacities are lacking and there is no framework
for regulations supporting the development of an effective
and efficient housing system.
* Low commitment of decision makers.
* In 2001, 32% of households had a land ownership certificate. |
*
In October 2000, about 1.3 million informal settler families
were identified in key urban centers, with 57% in Metro Manila.
* Lands occupied by slum dwellers are blighted areas, i.e.,
areas of declining property values caused by the deterioration
and obsolescence of housing facilities. |
*
Since 1990, over 90% of Thais own, lease or rent their homes.
*
Housing structures are in good condition with only 7% pf the
population living in houses built with non-permanent materials.
*
In a 2000 survey, 4,860 low-income communities lived in congested
areas, or 27% of urban population.
* According to a1998 survey, slum dwellers have a higher level
of insecurity, which are apparent in cities of the Central
and North regions.
* Housing security is among the Ten Standards for the Quality
of Life of Thai People. The Government has recently launched
several housing projects for low-income earners. |
CHALLENGES |
*
The main challenge is to meet the need and demand for housing,
particularly for poor and low-income groups.
* Improving and building-up slum areas and improving land-ownership
status. |
*
Addressing the needs of the slum dwellers involve the provision
not only of shelter but auxiliary facilities and livelihood.
*
Government should work with business and civil society to
meet the needs of the urban poor and the informal sector.
* The organization of the slum dwellers should facilitate
the process toward their full integration as partners in development. |
*
Target urban development and housing schemes appropriately.
*
Incorporate participatory processes. |
