1. Adaptation in Central Thailand
Socio-Ecological Systems: Environment, Development and Sustainability Conference 2016
Nuttavikhom (Kay) Phanthuwongpakdee
King’s College London & National University of Singapore

2. Where is Thailand & Central Thailand

3. Flood
An overflow of a large amount of water beyond its normal limits, especially over what is normally dry land.
2005 Flood in New Orleans
2007 African Flood
2010 China Flood
2010 Pakistan Flood
Flood in the UK and Ireland
Malaysian Flood

4. Climate Change
Political Divide
Deforestation
Not Enough Protections
Karma
Mismanagement

5. Geographical Features of Thailand

6. Flooding Events in Thailand

7. Thai Way of Life

8. Water Management in Central Thailand

9. 2011 Mega-Flood

10. Questions
Even with huge investments, long experience with flooding, and the incorporation of “people-centered” development, why many people in Thailand are still vulnerable to flood?
How to adapt, in a resilience manner, to flood in Central Thailand?
Resilience: the capacity to adjust and adapt for the better to threats and avoid harm from future events with minimal or no outside assistance.

11. Theoretical Framework
Political Ecology
The vulnerabilities of people to disaster is not “natural”, but is rather the result of political, economic, and social systems (Hewitt 1983; Mustafa 2013);
Pressure and Release (PAR) Model.
Pragmatism
Where feasible, adaptation to or accommodation of flood hazard rather than the "structural" solutions (White 1945; Kate 2007).

12. ( ) f Hazard Response Risk Vulnerability Exposure =
Adapted from Mustafa (2009)

13. Pressure and Release (PAR) Model
Adapted from Blaikie et al. (1994) & Wisner (2004)
Unsafe Conditions
Disaster
Hazard
Dynamic Pressures
Root Causes

14. Study Areas
Case 2
Case 1
Case 3

15. Data Collection Review of documents
In-depth, open-ended interviews with residents & officials
47 participants in Case 1
42 participants in Case 2
14 participants in Case 3
Participant observation
**Parts of the interviews were voice-recorded.
Perception
Adaptation
Resilience

16. Local Flood Perceptions
Floods, including the occasional big ones, are believed to be normal occurrences.
Flood is one of the concerns but it is not perceived as the greatest concern.
Views on flood protection vary.
Many saw the 2011 Mega-Flood as a political disaster.
Many adaptations reflect the traditional practices but not all anticipated ones can be employed.
Residents do not know about the future disaster and development policies.

17. Root Causes Modernization Marginalization Urbanization
Industrialization
“Technologicalization”
Marginalization
Limited Access to Resources (including Power)

18. Dynamic Pressures Technocratic Policies
Centralized Policies (official until 1997)
Patronage System
Some Cultural Practices / Beliefs
Laissez-faire urban growth and expansion of industrial areas and other important amenities into floodplain
Disparagement of some traditional beliefs and practices
Government Corruption
Inefficient Officials

19. Bangkok until 1922
Images created for LSE Cities ‘Yangon Urban Growth Analytics’ project

20. Bangkok in
Images created for LSE Cities ‘Yangon Urban Growth Analytics’ project

21. Bangkok in
Images created for LSE Cities ‘Yangon Urban Growth Analytics’ project

22. Bangkok in
Images created for LSE Cities ‘Yangon Urban Growth Analytics’ project

23. Bangkok in 2015
Images created for LSE Cities ‘Yangon Urban Growth Analytics’ project

24. Unsafe Conditions Physical
Higher Flood Risk, Exposure and Vulnerability
Unfair Structural Protections
Economic
Too dependent on activities in the floodplains
Social
Change in Lifestyle
Too Submissive
Cognitive & Political Biases
Low Risk Perception
Governance
Lack of Public Participation
Struggle for Power – No Continuity & No Communication

25. Case 1 – Local Responses

26. Case 1 – Government Responses

27. Case 2 – Local Reponses

28. Case 2 – Government Responses

29. Case 3 – Local Reponses

30. Adaptation in a resilient manner
Encourage preparedness and risk awareness
Collective actions
Reduce overreliance on structural measures
Promote traditional knowledge
Education (e.g. swimming, how to row boat, what plants are safe to eat)
Integration of traditional and modern knowledge
Highlight the role of religion
Concepts such as karma and impermanence
Temples as shelters / religion as way to reduce stress
Strengthen the roles of local government
Decentralization
Local government is local people who know about the areas and the people more than the central government

31. “Floods are an act of God, but flood losses are largely an act of man” Gilbert F White (1911-2006)
“I used to think the top global environmental problems were biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and climate change. I thought that with 30 years of good science we could address those problems. But I was wrong. The top environmental problems are selfishness, greed and apathy… and to deal with those we need a spiritual and cultural transformation”
James Gustave Speth
Thank you