Environmental geology of changwat Nakhon Phanom in Northeasthern Thailand

Abstract

Changwat Nakhon Phanom is a province located in the northeastern part of Thailand and is currently identified under the economic cooperation development project of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) of Burma, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, Vietnam, and Yunnan. This project needs the background information on environmental geology of the areas concerned. Thus, the study on environmental geology of Changwat Nakhon Phanom is the important fraction for Subregional development planning of the so-called "Greater Mekong Subregional, GMS".This study aims to acquire and analyse the data and information concerning the environmental geology of Changwat Nakhon Phanom in order to identify and evaluate the future development planning. As a result, agricultural development plan was presented as a major plan. The resolution was processed from considering the physical environment, socio-economic condition and existing plans. Finally, the weight-rating system was used to analyse the suitability of area for paddy field, non-flooded annual crops, fruit trees, para-rubber, coconut and permanent pasture or rangeland livestock farming. There are five suitability, namely, very high, high, moderate, low and very low suitability.