The Eastern region is a hub of heavy industry, including Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate, Laem Chabang Industrial Estate. The government’s recent designation of the EEC has raised concerns among locals that it would worsen pollution and environmental impacts in the region.

The forum heard their voices about this issue amid calls for participatory planning.

Participants at the forum called for participatory environmental management, access to state information and accountable environmental impact assessment. Other issues raised in the forum included the quality of eco-tourism, human-elephant conflict resolutions, organic farming and the introduction of models of successes.

The committee will hold a forum in the North early next month before one final forum in Bangkok. It will then submit a plan to the government for further implementation.

The committee is among 13 committees appointed as part of the reform effort addressed under the new national reform law. The expected implementation period is five years.