The Final Conference of the Thai Coast Project attracted 100 delegates from seven countries, with almost half of them (45%) working in Government Agencies in Thailand and Vietnam.
The goal of the Thai Coast project has been to improve scientific understanding of the vulnerability of Thailand’s shoreline and coastal communities to hydro-meteorological hazards, including storms, floods and coastal erosion, under future climate change scenarios.
The conference highlighted key policy and practice-relevant results to be taken forward by agencies of the Thai government and other international and regional development organisations who would also benefit from the project results. This included identifying the natural and socio-economic factors that contribute to risk from hydro-meteorological hazards and informing knowledge of governance processes for coastal communities. In addition, the conference provided the opportunity to share experiences and lessons learned during the project as well as disseminating the project outcomes with the wider community through novel approaches, including social media.
The Conference was hosted by Mahidol University, with the opening speech by the President of Mahidol University, Professor Banchong Mahaisavariya, followed by the Dean of the Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Associate Professor Sura Pattanakiat. The project PIs, Professor Cherith Moses, Edge Hill University and Associate Professor Kanchana Nakhapakorn, Mahidol University, then presented an overview of the project before key results from each of the project work packages were presented and discussed.
Recordings of the meeting are available below:
Welcome addresses and project overview
Key findings of Work Package 1: Baseline assessment of hydro-meteorological boundary conditions, Dr Raymond Ward, Brighton University, UK
Key findings of Work Package 2: Scenario modelling, hazard assessment and flood modelling. Dr Yi Wang, University of Sussex, Dr David Martin, Ambiental Risk Analytics, Royal Haskoning DHV, UK.
Key findings of Work Package 3: Socio-economic impact assessment, coping mechanisms and resilience. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Uma Langkulsen, Thammasat University, Thailand.
Key findings of Work Package 4: Coastal vulnerability assessment.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pannee Cheewinsiriwat, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand.
Key findings of Work Package 5: Good governance, resilience and sustainable coastal communities. Prof Cherith Moses, Edge Hill University, UK, Assoc Prof Kanchana Nakhapakorn, Mahidol University, Thailand.
Key findings of Work Package 6: Impact through public engagement, dissemination and dialogue between policy-makers and coastal communities.
Assoc Prof Chalermpol Chamchan, Dr Suparee Boonmanant, Mahidol University, Thailand.
Summary and Future Directions: Prof Cherith Moses, Edge Hill University.