Interactions between Water and Economic Development: the Phong Watershed Case Study, Thailand

摘要

The objective of this paper is to investigate the interactions between water resource development and the national economic development policy in the Phong watershed, located in the northeast of Thailand. The results reveal that the national economic development policy in the northeast of Thailand is to develop water resources as the main strategy aimed at increasing water availability, improving standards of living and river ecosystems. As a result, agricultural sectors, agro-industries and power generation have been aggressively developed. However, economic development has also led to a host of interrelated problems such as water shortages, water pollution and social conflicts concerning water. These kinds of problems have been evident in the Phong watershed since the Ubolratana dam was constructed in 1966 to serve the regional economic development plan.