Thai NuRA Project Targets Coastal Pollution

Chulalongkorn University, through Chula Unisearch, in collaboration with Thailand’s Pollution Control Department under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) via the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA), held an inception workshop to launch the “Thai NuRA” (Nutrient Reduction Action) project under the theme “Seeding a Nutrient Pollution Reduction Strategy for the Coastal Waters of Thailand” on May 7, 2026, at Skyview Hotel Bangkok. 

The event was attended by Prof. Dr. Wilert Puriwat, President of Chulalongkorn University, along with executives and experts from government agencies, international organizations, and academia. 

On this occasion, Dr. Supichai Tangjaitrong, Executive Director of Chula Unisearch and the university’s representative, stated: “Chulalongkorn University is ready to serve as a driving academic force through research and cross-sector collaboration to identify and sustainably reduce the ‘sources’ of nutrient pollution flowing into Thailand’s seas.” 

The project aims to address pollution caused by nitrogen and phosphorus, which are major contributors to algal blooms — also referred to in Thailand as the “Matcha Sea” phenomenon — that negatively affect marine ecosystems, tourism, and the country’s fisheries sector. 

The Thai NuRA project operates under the “Source-to-Sea” concept, focusing on pollution management from inland sources to coastal waters. Its activities include knowledge development, policy support, pilot-area innovations, and stakeholder participation across sectors. 

Thailand is one of 14 countries receiving support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) under the global GEF-8 Clean and Healthy Ocean Integrated Program (CHO-IP). 

Read more at: https://www.chula.ac.th/en/news/304462/