Public Seminar "From Northern Winds to the Mekong Flows" on Chiang Rai's Environmental Crisis

MFU and HD Host Public Seminar "From Northern Winds to the Mekong Flows" on Chiang Rai's Environmental Crisis

Asian Research Center for International Development (ARCID), School of Social Innovation, Mae Fah Luang University, in collaboration with The Center for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), hosted the public academic seminar "From Northern Winds to the Mekong Flows on Saturday, April 18, 2026, from 08.30 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. at Institute for Mekong Basin Civilization, Art and Culture, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai. The event brought together academics, community representatives, youth, farmers, entrepreneurs, and members of the general public for a wide-ranging exchange on the overlapping environmental pressures facing the province.

The seminar was convened in direct response to the compounding environmental crises confronting Chiang Rai — challenges that cascade across water, air, food systems, and community well-being. The province faces acute disruption to Mekong River flows caused by upstream dam operations in China, which destabilize river sediments and disorient fish breeding cycles, eroding both fish populations and the livelihoods of local fishing communities. Compounding this, severe air pollution — particularly fine particulate matter PM2.5 — driven by agricultural burning, forest fires, and cross-border haze, is intensified by Chiang Rai's basin geography, which traps pollutants and amplifies their impact on public health.

The seminar adopted a "Single Panel, Two Layers" format, structured as a flowing, moderated conversation. The first layer established a shared, evidence-based understanding of what is happening and why. The second layer then brought the human dimension into the room, centering the lived realities and direct testimonies of those most affected.

Discussion was anchored by panelists representing four interconnected themes. On Air, Dr. Buntoon Srethasirote, member of the Sub-Committee on Drafting the Clean Air Act, addressed PM2.5 pollution and the policy pathways toward cleaner air. On Water, Ajarn Chaloemphan Kaewkanta of the School of Health Sciences, Mae Fah Luang University, examined water resource challenges and contamination in the Kok River basin. On Food, Ms. Sirivimol Kitaphanich, founder of Rai Ruen Rom, and Mr. Pongsakorn Areesiripaisal, owner of LOCAL Coffee, shared perspectives on local food systems and resource sustainability. On People, Mr. Sattha Udomrit of the MFU Human Rights Student Club gave voice to youth concerns over long-term environmental decline and its impact on borderland communities.

A short documentary film, "Shadow of Contamination on the Kok River: Beyond the Lives of Farmers" , was screened during the event, offering a compelling portrait of how toxic contamination in the Kok River is reshaping the lives and livelihoods of farming communities in the region. The seminar closed with a wrap-up session and presentation of tokens of appreciation by Dr. Nichant Singhaphuttangkul.

The event succeeded in bridging academic knowledge with the voices of affected communities, while fostering new connections between researchers, civil society organizations, local communities, and policymakers — a meaningful step toward building collaborative, region-wide responses to the Mekong Basin's environmental challenges.

Mae Fah Luang University remains committed to providing open, evidence-informed public platforms that connect research with community action on environmental issues affecting borderland communities across the Greater Mekong Subregion.