Scaling Wetland Monitoring for Thailand’s Ramsar and National Priority Sites—Phase I

February 2026 – September 2026 (Phase I)

Thailand is home to 15 internationally recognized Ramsar wetland sites, along with dozens of additional wetlands classified as nationally or internationally important. These ecosystems provide essential services, from flood regulation and water purification to biodiversity habitat and local livelihoods. Yet the country’s last comprehensive wetland inventory dates back to 2002, leaving decision-makers without up-to-date information on how these areas are changing.

Over the past two decades, Thailand’s wetlands have faced growing pressures from agricultural expansion, urban development, infrastructure projects, and shifts in rainfall patterns linked to climate variability. Without current spatial data, it is difficult to assess where wetland loss or degradation is occurring, to set conservation priorities, or to meet international reporting requirements under the Ramsar Convention.

This project addresses that gap. SEI Asia is partnering with Thailand’s Department of Water Resources (DWR) to deploy a satellite-based Wetland Monitoring Tool across all 15 Ramsar Sites and 15–20 additional nationally prioritized wetlands. The tool combines radar and optical satellite imagery to produce annual wetland classification maps, covering approximately 485,000 hectares across the country.

The initiative responds to a formal request from DWR in January 2026 for technical support in scaling wetland monitoring nationally. Phase I focuses on generating six years of baseline data (2020–2025), validating results through fieldwork and high-resolution imagery, and building the capacity of DWR staff to operate the monitoring system independently. Two hands-on training workshops and a comprehensive set of technical documentation and reporting templates are central to the approach.

By providing consistent, repeatable wetland data, the project supports Thailand’s obligations under the Ramsar Convention, Sustainable Development Goals 6.6 and 15.1, and national water and biodiversity strategies. The goal is a monitoring framework that DWR can sustain and extend well beyond the project period.