International Journal of Environmental Science and Development

Abstract—This study investigates land use change over the past 12 years at Chao Samram beach, Thailand, and evaluates the physical, social, and economic impact on the area. From 1999 to 2011, land use changed significantly, especially in the urban, aquaculture and salt flat, and bare land areas. Conversely, we observe that the area covered by mangrove forests and water did not decrease significantly. Only the area used for agriculture and rice farming decreased. We also note that the density distribution of communities along the coast was according to the economic and social development plan of the municipal district, and population density has increased continuously since 2004. Economic activity revolves around two sectors: rice farming accounts for 59.29% of total income and tourism, 36.6%. An investigation of the physical landscape indicates that the beach eroded severely during 2005–2006 and 2009–2010 and finds evidence of accretion in 2004–2005 and 2008–2009. The total economic loss that occurred because of the threatened land and buildings is approximately 177.69 million baht. This study concludes that to understand coastal zone development, we need to consider the long-term physical, social, and economic losses.

Index Terms—Coastal communities, transformation of land use, coastal area change.

The authors are with the Graduate School, Kasetsart University-Sustainable Land Use and Natural Resource Management Center (KU-SLUSE), Kasetsart University, 50 Ngam Wong Wan Rd, Ladyaow, Chatuchak, Bangkok, Thailand (e-mail: siriluk2000@yahoo.com).

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Cite: Siriluk Prukpitikul, Payatipol Narangjavana, and Ruangrai Tokrisna, "Assessment of the Effects of Community Expansion and Land Use Transformation on a Coastal Area in Thailand," International Journal of Environmental Science and Development vol. 7, no. 7, pp. 537-541, 2016.