It’s the Green Season, we’ve been told.

Certainly, Phuket never looks more lush and verdant than during the few months it receives its quota of annual lashings from the raingods.

Overnight, grass springs forth waving spritely in the breeze. Trees acquire curtains of greenery, every square inch of of available land is re-claimed by a wealth of flora that has lain dormant and parched through the harsh summer. Phuket has come alive.

The word green however, has come to signify more than leaves, shrubs, envy... and the US greenback.

It defines a philosophy: one of protection and conservation. Respect for natural resources and wealth. Of preservation over destruction.

In the light of the global environmental crisis that has gripped the world; forced governments to stop and reconsider their policies; inspired whole countries and continents to modify their practices, and generated a new wave of consciousness amongst travellers, being a holiday destination that depends greatly on its international image in the tourism industry, there is an urgent need on the island to pause and reflect: how green is Phuket, really?

We put the question out there, among our readers, the public, organisations and individuals that symbolise eco-friendly awareness on the island. And the responses we got were rather more blue than green.

How Green is Phuket?
“On a scale of one to ten, with ten being best,” says Ike Suriwon, of the Phuket birders blog, “I’d say no more than three”
A bleak point of view shared by the majority of people the Post spoke to. With more land being cleared for construction projects everyday, a whopping percentage of what used to be the island’s natural rainforests already replaced with rubber plantations, an ever increasing number of vehicles sending up noxious fumes into the air, and the island’s epic dependence on the plastic bag, Planet Phuket could be facing some dire consequences.
“While one can call a rubber plantation “green” or “forest”, like Dr. Phil Round of the Mahidol Univeristy, Bangkok said,” contends Ike Suriwon, “rubber plantations support very little in terms of wildlife or bird life.
“The only real patches of forest left on the island are at the Kow Prataeo National Park and the adjacent Non-hunting park, the Forestry Nursery and what’s left on the hills, and even those are being cropped back to make room for rubber plantations.”
Mr. Suriwon does allow that the presence of rubber plantations are better than the cement jungles in Patong, Phuket town and Karon.
The possibility that the remainder of Phuket’s lush forests could be replaced by the grey scenario in any of the towns mentioned above is alarming, and one that should send warning signals to even the most lax of the environmentally inclined amongst its well-wishers.
The beauty of the island is what draws in the tourists- and the development. Take this away, and the tourists and investors will be heading in the opposite direction faster than you can say “greenback”. Phuket will be left behind, a victim of its own success.
The 80-metre limit on building construction heralds some hope that the state’s planners are sitting up and taking notice of the imminent ramifications of indiscriminate building.
K.Aongart Chanachanmongkol, Phuket, the director of Phuket Provincial of Natural resources and environment says the government is being vigilant over illegal encroachments over forested areas and has been successful at keeping these in check. “In the beginning of this year, I checked the geography of the island by helicopter. There were just two trespassed areas and we have already sued them.”
Heartening, but what of the ‘legal’ constructions that are making more and more inroads into the forests and mangroves of Phuket all the time? On what basis are these projects approved and is there a limit that has been set, a ceiling to curb this gradual replacement of greenery with houses and resorts?
Let’s hope so, or the views out of the several luxury properties that have already been built will soon be a lot less appealing.
There is also some hope for the mangrove forests, K.Promchote Trivate, the director of Phuket Provincial Tourism, Sport and Recreation department told the Phuket Post that efforts are being organised to rally around and conserve mangrove forests on the island. Mangroves are of course an essential part of the island’s ecological make-up, and further depletion of these resources will seriously jeopardise the island’s delicate ecological balance.
The Phuket Post met with John Gray of the John Gray Sea Canoe tours, one of the few long-standing voices campaigning for conservation of the environment on Phuket.
Mr Gray is adamant about the urgent need to protect the mountain ridges of Phuket. There is a stark need for green belt planning, he says. “There is still land on Phuket that can be developed, instead of encroaching continually into the forested mountains”.
“How Green is Phuket?” he considers, “not very”.
He bemoans some of the tourist industry practices on the island. “Speed boats,” he says “are resposible for an unusually large contribution to global warming. Yet, in Phuket whole fleets of these monsters take hoards of tourists to Phi-phi everyday.
“And worse, these are two-cycle engine speed boats; which are not only passe they are against the law in many parts of the West for being extrememly hazardous to the environment.
“Why are they allowed to continue to be used? There are in fact brand new two-cycle speed boats being bought everyday”.
“Where is the control?” he despairs. “The government must take action. The use of two-cycle speed boats must be phased out. Double the taxes on these; eliminate the taxes on four-cylce speed boats and give the operators five years to change over completely.
“Four-cycle speed boats are not just more environmentally friendly, they are easier and less expensive to run. A change would be of benefit not just to the environment, but to the operators themselves. There is just no awareness about this.
“And jet skis” he continues, with more than a twinge of indignance crossing his expression, “there is just no excuse for them being on the planet. They wreak havoc in terms of water, noise and air pollution.
“Boneheads are attracted to jet-skis.”
Even more indignant, he adds “ And in this era of conservation and respect for wildlife, how, may I ask, are wildlife poachers free to walk down Soi Bangla brandishing captured reptiles and gibbons at the passers-by?”

Trashing Planet Phuket.
Anyone who has been shopping- even for groceries- in Phuket knows just how big the plastic bag is on the island. Go to a shopping mall, or even a store, pick 6-7 items and you will be presented with 3-4 bags for things that could comfortably be contained in two, if not one.
A resident expat recounted to the Phuket Post the grim (and all too common) story of his experience in a shopping mall in Phuket. Entering a section of the mall carrying magazines in a small plastic bag, he was greeted by security.
“There were already many bags checked in at the counter, and as mine was fairly small they put it through the whizz-bang machine.
“Well, all it did was wrap my bag in another plastic bag and then sealed it. I presume the idea was I could then not half-itch some of their ‘wonderful’ stuff.
“The end result for our little planet? One non-biodegradable plastic bag was wrapped in another non-biodegradable plastic bag”
While all around the world efforts are being made to curb the use of plastic; in Australia people have taken to carrying their own cloth shopping bags to stores, the lack of awareness- or concern- on Phuket, for the devastating effects of plastic on the environment is staggering.
Plastic endures for years and years.
Indeed, old plastic bags never die...they don’t even waste away.
The apathy and lack of awareness translates into no action whatsoever being taken. Where are the cloth bags? Where is the option of a recycled paper bag offered at the stores at cost?

Freezing in Phuket?
Sometimes, it’s hard to remember we’re in the tropics. Airconditioning is so much the way of life in Phuket, you’d rarely spot anyone driving with their windows down.
On the way to the cinema or the airport? Make sure you have your sweater even before you check you have your ticket. The air conditioning is usually turned on high enough to freeze your insides.
It’s ironic that a in country famous for its street food and open-air eateries infusing the very special ambiance that attracts foreigners to it in hordes, people wouldn’t even consider turning off the aircons in their offices and homes, even occasionally; to let in some of that fresh, clean air they are blessed with.
Many homes and office spaces do not even have fans, eliminating the option entirely.
Granted the days can be searingly hot in Phuket, and an airconditioner in the car can be a blessing, but Phuket has mild, balmy evenings that invite windows to be rolled down and gentle breezes allowed in...but no one’s interested.

Choking in Paradise
There are a lot of vehicles out and about in Phuket, adding to the air pollution significantly. Every year there are more.
With a lack of an efficient public transport system, it is hardly surprising that almost everyone on the island feels compelled to own and use to the maximum, their own conveyance.
Increasing number of private vehicles is cause enough for concern, but when you add the deadly fumes that are sent out in volumes by battered old trucks and tourist buses in varying states of disrepair, the picture is positively... and literally, grey.
A sure-fire place to find these “offenders” says Ike Suriwon, “is on Patong hill, where many large trucks and buses create a literal “smoke screen” on their way up the hill. Not only is it bad for the environment, but it is bad for the health of those who have no choice other than to breathe in these toxic fumes.
“PPAO should start a programme in conjunction with the Phuket police dept. to ban vehicles that create a lot of pollution from exhaust,” he says.

Ignorance is bliss- in a fool’s paradise.
Awareness is everything. There is a need to bring the global wave of environmental concern to the locality, the individual. The government needs to mobilise an effective drive that translates into sustained concern and care for Phuket.

There are already some noteworthy initiatives spread over the cross-section of organisations on the island.

QSI International School of Phuket has made commendable efforts to an environmental consciousness among its students this year.

“Six and seven year old students of the school have led a significant school-wide effort to recycle and re-use paper, batteries etc.” Alan Siporin, Director of the school told the Phuket Post. “Water bottles are collected and sold for recycling. Same for batteries- these days there are so many batteries from computers, MP3 players and cell phones.

“A major effort has been made to salvage paper for a variety of re-uses. We try to use both sides of paper and recycle it when both sides are used.”

The students of the school also particiated in a drive to plant trees all over the school campus.

There are signs that construction houses are also recognising the need for more eco-friendly practices. The Crest Phuket, the latest luxury sea view residential property in Phuket claims to use the most energy efficient lighting fixtures and aircon units for the overall project. Large plants from the site were taken into a nursery before construction began and these are to be planted back on the site after completion of the project.

Some hotels on the island have made significant forays into green methods of running their properties.
Holiday Inn Phuket is investing 6 million baht into heat pumps that use hot air instead of heavy oil to generate energy to heat water. This will reduce the property’s heavy oil consumption by 60% and therefore burn less fossil energy.

At the J W Marriott Phuket, there exists an effective sorting system, garbage is separated into wet and dry categories.
Used kitchen oil is sold to a local vendor who uses it to make local products. All old motor oils are disposed of through local mechanics for on-selling.
Waste water at the resort is processed through the recycling plant and used for irrigation of the landscape.
Highest grade diesel is purchased to operate the resort’s boilers and generators.

Khun Siripun, PR manager for the Marriott Phuket informed the Phuket Post that, “While more expensive, it is a far superior grade to the popular and more widely used crude oil form that is very cheap but also dirty and not environmentally friendly. Boilers are adjusted to strict settings to minimize exhaust.
“The resort also creates its own compost for use throughout the gardens rather than use fertilizer which has chemicals which could penetrate the water table. The Marriott limits the use of plastic materials throughout the resort. Takeaway containers in Siam Deli for example, are made from a recycled plant material.”

Laguna resorts are also proud of their environmentally sound policies. No raw sewerage is discharged into the sea from the resort complex. After being treated, sewerage and wastewater are directed into a sophisticated recycling system. The resultant water is used to irrigate the gardens.
Maintaining the golf course requires large amounts of water, so a special system has been devised. The property was built on the site of an abandoned tin mine and lagoon water left highly acidic as a result of the erstwhile tin mining is treated by adding excess wastewater from the hotels, with added dolomite to raise the pH level.
The treated water is used to irrigate the golf course, thus preventing depletion of the limited local water supply.
Tourism being the mainstay for the economy on the island, hotels in Phuket are in a strong position, and owe it to the island, to pioneer the way into eco-friendly tourism. This also makes good business sense, studies have shown that with growing consciousness for the urgent need for environmental protection, tourists the world over are choosing to patronise eco-friendly hotels. They are also willing to pay a premium on their stays at eco-friendly resorts

The Evason has demonstrated that high standards of conservation and environmental consciousness can be incorporated into a very profitably run business. The Evason Phuket, Six Senses’ fourth project, was built within the shell of an existing hotel; thus large scale re-use was at its very foundation.
The company employees pay careful attention to energy use and waste at every level, this having been a key part of the initial concept of the resort. They have managed to reduce resort waste greatly by using locally sourced materials and labour, materials that are easily replenishable such as bamboo rather than teak, and including as many non-polluting, energy saving systems as possible.
Indeed, there is no reason at all why being green cannot also be extremely profitable. In the long run, energy saving measures cut back costs significantly, and in a world where environment is becoming a prime concern, it would make no business sense at all to not incorporate eco-friendly practices.

Saving Planet Phuket
The warning signs of an archaic and ineffective environmental policy- if there is one at all- are out there. Unsightly dumps filled with plastic and other rubbish become more part of the landscape everyday. More vehicles squeeze into the chaos on the roads increasing air pollution. A recent spill from the garbage incenarator in Phuket town killed thousands of fish.

The governement needs to sit up and take action, install programmes meant bolster Phuket’s eco image urgently.

“We don’t have the time to educate the children and wait for them to grow up,” insists John Gray.
In Margaret Mitchell’s epic novel Gone With The Wind one of the principle protagonists Rhett Buttler says, “There is as much money to be made in the destruction of a civilization as in its rise”.
Conversely, there is as much money in the conservation of natural resources as there is in the destruction.

All we need is a change in attitudes and...business strategies. Phuket needs its government to lead the way. It needs its people to put the greener good above their own agendas.

Thailand is sandwiched between India and China, two of the worst offenders in terms of contribution to global warming. This is a unique opportunity for the south-east asian country, already famous for its friendly and polite people, to set an example to its larger neighbours.
As a province with a unique international makeup, Phuket should be in the vanguard of change for Thailand as a whole, because tourists will be turned off if it isn’t.

Starting this Green Season, the government, residents, expats, organisations and institutions of Phuket need to pledge to turn their policies around, and recognise the need of the hour, to make sure that Phuket remains - both for its residents and its visitors – evergreen.

By Aparna Raut Desai
Additonal reporting: Tanisa Bunyasiwa