Integrating wetland conservation into development

Coordinator: Sansanee Choowaew
E-mail: enscw@mahidol.ac.th

Wetlands have been prime targets for reclamation and socioeconomic development. Without adequate insight and understanding of wetland ecosystems, their ecological roles, functions and values, attempt and effort to conserve wetlands for sustainable uses, as well as appropriate landscape designing and engineering techniques, wetlands have been degraded, deteriorated, converted and lost. This session intends to demonstrate that sustainable development and wetlands conservation can be integrated. Case studies and examples in Asia can be drawn and compiled from various sectors (such as tourism, industrial, agricultural sectors, etc.) and mega-projects (such as city and infrastructure development, coastal zone development, water resource and irrigation development, etc.) to reveal that eco-engineering concepts exist, work well, and are applicable for integrating wetlands conservation into development. Wetlands conservation and development can coexist and wetlands still remain the Heart of Asia.