The three-member team of Vasan Narang, Le Truong Ngoc Han and Sobia Asghar defeated rivals from Kasetsart University at the contest held on March 21.

The debate was organised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation along with The Centre for People and Forests, and the United Nations Environment Programme at the FAO premises in Bangkok.

Debating the proposition “Investing in forest restoration reduces the cost of providing clean water to people”, the AIT team spoke in favour of the motion. Its debaters reasoned that forest restoration curtails soil erosion and nutrient runoff and enhances clean groundwater infiltration, thus reducing the use of chemicals in water treatment and prolonging the life of treatment facilities.

This year’s winning team members hail from three countries — Vasan is from Thailand, Le Truong is from Vietnam, and Sobia is from Pakistan. While Sobia is a doctoral candidate, Vasan and Le Truong are Master’s students.

All three being enrolled to studyy natural resource management at AIT’s School of Environment, Resources and Development.