All publications

An Appraisal of Green Gross Provincial Product of a Tourist Island - An Analysis Focusing on Phuket

Hong Anh Thi Nguyen, Shabbir H. Gheewala, Pariyapat Nilsalab, Piyanon Haputta, Trakarn Prapaspongsa, Kritana Prueksakorn

Environment and Natural Resources Journal · 2026

This study incorporated provincial input-output tables into the environmental assessment process for Phuket - an island with an economy based largely on tourism. The life cycle assessment approach was employed considering five impact categories including climate change, fossil scarcity, water, eutrophication and land use for green gross provincial product (GGPP) calculation. Degradation cost and depletion cost originating from global warming and fossil resource scarcity were the main contributors. The results indicated that for a tourism-based economy such as Phuket, industries associated with tourism, such as accommodation and food service activities, wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles, as well as transportation and storage are highly profitable, but also impose heavier environmental burdens compared to other sectors. The sectoral GGPP of electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply, as well as water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities, involved more in local residents’ living, accounted for 25% and 50% of the sectoral gross provincial product (GPP), respectively. In 2015, Phuket GGPP was 160 billion THB, corresponding to 96% of the Phuket GPP. As Phuket relies heavily on its beautiful environment to bring economic value, it is imperative to protect it against environmental damages especially irrecoverable ones.

Measuring food waste national baseline and reduction strategies towards sustainable development goal

Rattanawan Mungkung, Katreeya Saejew, Napat Jakrawatana, Thanita Areerob, Supawan Khantotong, Kritana Prueksakorn

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management · 2025

How Fern and Fern Allies Respond to Heterogeneous Habitat--- A Case in Yuanjiang Dry-Hot Valley

Feng-Chun Yang, Chaya Sarathchandra, Jing‐Xin Liu, Huaping Huang, Jian-Yong Gou, Suthathong Homya, Kritana Prueksakorn, Zhao Jun, Ming-Fu Yang

2024

The Yuanjiang dry-hot valley features hot and dry climate, low vegetation and soil degradation. It had lush vegetation in the past, but has become degraded in recent decades. Understanding the interrelationship between species and the habitat is necessary to explain this change. In this study, a link between fern and fern allies - a group that is hypersensitive to environmental factors and their circumstances is constructed. Intensive transects and plots were designed to be proxies for extant fern and fern allies, and their habitats. Fifty years of meteorological records of precipitation and temperature along altitude and river running direction (latitudinal) were employed. Alpha and beta diversity are used to access diversity. Species_estimated, Singletons, Uniques, ACE, ICE, and Chao2, which associate to abundance and rarity, are subscribed to the correlation between fern and fern allies, and their ecosystem. Eight species, Selaginella pseudopaleifera, Aleuritopteris squamosa, Adiantum malesianum, Pteris vittata, Davallia trichomanoides, Sinephropteris delavayi, Selaginella jugorum, and Lygodium japonicum are used as indicators of a typical xeric and sun-drying habitat. The results indicate (1) accompanied by dramatically shrinking habitats, fern and fern allies are in very low diversity and abundance, whereas the rarity is relatively high; (2) for fern and fern allies, environmental factors are positive when altitude goes up; and (3) eight indicator species are latitudinally correlated with fern and fern allies along the river running direction.

Biodiversity and Abundance of Angiosperms and Environmental Resilience in the Tidal Range of Yuanjiang Dry–Hot Valley, Southwestern China

Fengchun Yang, Qiong He, Huaping Huang, Yanmei Cui, Jian-Yong Gou, Chaya Sarathchandra, Kritana Prueksakorn, Kiyota Hashimoto, Li Liu

Diversity · 2024

Yuanjiang dry–hot valley is located in the southwest of mainland China. It is a sparsely vegetated area with a fragile arid ecosystem. Although the valley previously had forest cover, it has become a tropical montane savannah in recent decades. Mechanisms controlling plant species distribution in such dry–hot valleys are unclear. Clarifying this will be beneficial to sustainable ecosystem management in dry–hot valleys. This study explored the relationship between diversity patterns of plant species and their environments in the lowland of this dry–hot valley. To achieve this, transects and plots were arranged along the river channel. Alpha and beta diversity indices were calculated to quantify biodiversity changes between species and environments. Estimated species, rarity, and abundance indices were also utilized to examine the correlation among species, their population size, and their environment: Species_estimated (expected number of species in t pooled plots), Singletons (the number of species with only one individual in t pooled plots), Uniques (the number of species living in one plot in t pooled plots), ACE (species richness estimator with coverage-based abundance), ICE (species richness estimator with coverage-based incidence), and Chao2 (species richness estimator extrapolated from Singletons). Fifty years of meteorological records, including temperature and precipitation, were utilized as climate variables. The results indicated the following findings: (1) alpha diversity was higher closer to the river, whereas the beta diversity was higher towards the lower sections of the river (Bray–Curtis < 0.5), but this trend was reversed in the perpendicular transects; (2) total phosphorous (TP) and total potassium (TK) were higher on flatter ground, tending to be associated with raised nitrogen (TN) and organic matter (OM); (3) soil nutrients were higher towards the lower sections of the river, corresponding to an increased number of species; (4) water supply determined plant distribution, with soil condition determining water retention; (5) the estimated species and their rarity and abundance indices were associated with proximity to the river, indicating heterogeneity of habitats and soil condition; and (6) fern species could be used as indicators representing the xeric environment of Yuanjiang dry–hot valley. Plant cover was reduced at low altitudes, with high temperatures and a low water supply. These results draw attention to the need for specific policy formation to protect the microhabitats and manage the environment of the Yuanjiang valley.

Development of Meteorological Criteria for Classifying PM2.5 Risk in a Coastal Industrial Province in Thailand

Patipat Vongruang, Kansak Suppoung, Sukrit Kirtsaeng, Kritana Prueksakorn, Pham Thi Bich Thao, Sittichai Pimonsree

Aerosol and Air Quality Research · 2024

The meteorological criteria for classifying the risk of PM2.5 problems were developed through a comprehensive approach in Samut Prakan, an industrial province located on the coast in a tropical climate zone. The relationship between meteorological criteria and PM2.5 risk level was conducted by analyzing the dataset of observed PM2.5 and meteorological parameters from 2018 to 2021. The results indicate that PM2.5 issues primarily arise during winter, with January recording the highest monthly concentration, exceeding the annual average by 83%. The high concentration in winter is related to low temperatures, wind speeds, and PBL heights that lead to low ventilation, which is 28% lower than the annual average in January. In the dry season, the mean daily ventilation index (VI) is the most sensitive meteorological parameter for PM2.5 variation and is used to classify PM2.5 risk levels: low risk (0–37 mg m-3) when VI > 2,369 m2 s-1; moderate risk (38–50 mg m-3) when VI = 1,606–2,369 m2 s-1; high risk (51–91 mg m-3) when VI = 886–1,605 m2 s-1; and very high risk (> 91 mg m-3) when VI < 886 m2 s-1. Meteorological criteria should be developed for each region based on climate, emission characteristics, methods, and data used for calculating these criteria, along with other local factors.

The Connection between Phuket’s Water Supply and the Hotel Sector’s Water Use for Assessment of Tourism Carrying Capacity

Thunyapat Sattraburut, Kritana Prueksakorn, Thanchanok Kitcharoen, Teeraporn Amattayakul, Papaporn Pinitsuwan, Chitsanuphong Pratum

Sustainability · 2024

For tourism development in areas where there are frequent problems with water shortage, it is important to assess water use potential from a geographic perspective. This study investigated the relationship between water use in the hotel sector and the amount of available water in Phuket for tourism carrying capacity assessment. Geographic information system (GIS) was applied to support spatial analysis. The studied hotels were in the size required to conduct an environmental impact assessment (EIA), totaling 178 hotels. There would be a total water use of 24,275 m3/day and 40,457 m3/day in the low and high seasons, respectively. In terms of annual water use, in the cases of lowest, normal, and highest possible consumption, there would be water consumption amounts of 8,860,021 m3/year, 11,303,606 m3/year, and 14,766,699 m3/year, respectively. From evaluating the capacity to support tourists in terms of water adequacy in Phuket Province, our results reveal that the amount of water in the province is insufficient to meet the needs of tourists. This is because the number of tourists coming to travel each year is ordinarily more than 10 million people, and there is a plan to accommodate 12 million tourists in 2023, but the amount of water that the province can procure is sufficient to support a maximum of not more than 8,986,600 tourists per year only if the water that EIA hotels store and produce themselves is included. This amount of water is still insufficient for the targeted number of tourists and other sectors, and the province’s water demand is likely to increase. In this regard, Phuket should hastily prepare a plan and measures to increase the amount of available water within the province.

Rapid decline in soil organic carbon stocks following forest-to-maize field conversion within a watershed in Northern Thailand

Thunyapat Sattraburut, Monthira Yuttitham, Sirasit Vongvassana, Sura Pattanakiat, Andaman Chankhao, Kritana Prueksakorn

Environmental Challenges · 2024

• Soil organic carbon (SOC) is consistently high in upper topsoil across all soil types, with the highest levels observed in forests. • SOC negatively correlates with bulk density, sand particles, and the duration since forest-to-maize conversion, while positively correlating with pH, silt, and clay particles. • SOC levels decreased by 34.42% over 15 years after forest conversion to maize cropping. • SOC depletion rate is 1.01 MgC/ha annually. Soil organic carbon (SOC) content was measured to assess the impact of land-use change from forests to maize cultivation across different soil types in Mae Tha Subwatershed, Lampang Province, Northern Thailand, over a 15-year period (2007-2022). A Geographic Information System (GIS) was used to determine sampling points, followed by field surveys and topsoil analysis in converted maize fields. The results revealed that both maize and forest soils exhibited a similar pattern of higher SOC in the upper topsoil. However, forest soils had significantly higher SOC content compared to maize fields. The average SOC content in the upper topsoil of forests was 44.58 ± 14.88 MgC/ha, significantly higher than the average of 30.38 ± 10.57 MgC/ha found in maize fields. Land-use change resulted in an estimated SOC loss of approximately 34.42% over 15 years, pointing to a decrease of 1.01 MgC/ha per year. Additionally, SOC content generally showed a negative correlation with bulk density, sand particles, and years since conversion. Conversely, a positive correlation was observed between SOC and pH, silt particles, and clay particles. The decline in SOC stocks due to the conversion of forests to maize cropping threatens soil fertility and increases reliance on chemical fertilizers, which endangers drinking water resources. This degradation reduces soil resilience to climate change impacts, exacerbating food security challenges. Urgent action is needed to implement sustainable practices, such as carbon farming and agroforestry, to enhance soil health and mitigate climate change effects.

Soil Organic Carbon Stock Assessment in Forest-Changed Maize Fields, Mae Tha Subwatershed, Lampang Province, Thailand

Thunyapat Sattraburut, Monthira Yuttitham, Sirasit Vongvassana, Sura Pattanakiat, Andaman Chankhao, Kritana Prueksakorn

SSRN Electronic Journal · 2024

Operational Efficiency and Environmental Impacts of Food Service Establishments in Phuket, Thailand

Hong Anh Thi Nguyen, Shabbir H. Gheewala, Kritana Prueksakorn, Supatsara Khunsri, Jutarat Thaweechot, Pornpimol Raksa

Sustainability · 2023

The expansion of global tourism development has led to an increase in environmental burdens. This study aimed to assess the operational performance and the environmental impacts associated with food service establishments in Phuket, an international tourist island in Thailand. A joint application of life cycle assessment and data envelopment analysis was employed to evaluate environmental burdens and calculate the efficiency scores encompassing several inputs and outputs of each food service establishment. There are several characteristics of food service establishments that affect their operational and environmental performance. The results showed that location, opening hours, and surrounding conditions are key factors driving the performance of air-conditioned food service establishments, while the performance of non-air-conditioned ones is mainly decided by opening hours. However, these factors are not significant for the performance of street food service establishments. It is advised to carefully consider the characteristics of the included food service establishments based on their products and services to enhance their performance. As an effort to achieve a balanced connection between environmental quality and economic growth, it is essential to evaluate both operational and environmental performance. Attaining maximum operational efficiency does not necessarily ensure the same for eco-efficiency.

Biodiversity and Species Distribution patterns in the low land of Yuanjiang Dry-Hot Valley

Feng-Chun Yang, Jing‐Xin Liu, Huaping Huang, Jian-Yong Gou, Li Ye, Xian Chen, Huiting Wen, Kritana Prueksakorn, Hong Anh Thi Nguyen, Chaya Sarathchandra

2022

Yuanjiang dry-hot valley is poorly vegetated as a fragile arid ecosystem. Although it was lushly forested in the past, it becomes a tropical montane savannah in recent decades. This study focus on the regime driving such a change which could help to understand the relationship between plants and their living environments in the low land of dry-hot valley, and also help to thrive the ecology policy in Yuanjiang-Red River. Plant species and their individuals are investigated in transects and plots arranging along the river channel. The first is L-transect lying along the river running direction while the second is P-transect lying perpendicular to river channel. Alpha and beta indices are employed to cope with biodiversity change in species and in environments. Expected species, rarity and abundance indices are subscribed to the correlation among species, population size, and their living circumstances, in the terms of Species_estimated, Singeltons, Uniques, ACE, ICE, and Chao2. Meanwhile, fifty years’ meteorological records in the valley including temperature and precipitation are collected for environmental references. The results indicate that: (1) in Yuanjiang dry-hot valley, alpha diversity is higher in the transects and plots closing to river channel than apart from while beta diversity increases from upper stream to the lower with Bray-Curtis < 0.500, but this condition is reversed in the transect perpendicular to the river; (2) tidal range contributes a lot in alpha biodiversity especially in the upper stream; (3) expected species, rarity and abundance indices are stronger in the sites closing to river channel and tidal range which is strongly indicating heterogeneous habitats. (4) Solanum virginianum is an ideal environmental indicator in the dry-hot valley. Conclusively, plants are not flourished in the low altitude ascribed to high temperature and poor precipitation. More attention should be laid on the micro habitat protection in our environmental management.