The Songkhram River is home to a large area of ecologically rich wetland in Nakhon Phanom which was formally recognised by Unesco as a 'Ramsar Site' in May. However, the two barrage projects along the Songkhram River are worrying conservationists. The 14.8-billion-baht project is expected to change the course of the Songkhram River, one of the few rivers in the country currently unencumbered by man-made infrastructure. Hannarong Yaowalers, a veteran con- servationist, said the barrage will affect water flow and block fish migration. Mr Sanit said the Songkhram River basin was more fertile in the past, with 183 fish species between 1978 and 2005.

Source: Bangkok Post September 07, 2020 22:18 UTC