3. The Implementation Initiative in Thailand.
The first development on Healthy City, Healthy Community in Thailand took place in the year
1994 by the Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health which derived the initiative of Regional
European World Health Office in 1986 to implement the “Healthy City “ in five pilot cities ; i.e Bangkok,
Nakornrajsrima, Payau, Yala and Panusnikom with the aim to let the Administration of the Local
Government and the Highest Administration of the Regional Government to be the leader in the
development network building together with the communities in each city. Some city uses the
strength and the roles of the Local Leader to stimulate the other partners, some tries to strengthen
their communities first and when the city becomes stronger, it can take on sustainable
development for its own communities.
In the year 2000, the Office of National Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning and
the Department of Environmental Quality Promotion has received supports from the Swedish
International Development Agency (SIDA) to implement the Thai – Sweden Cooperation under Local
Action Plan for Sustainable Development in the 21st Century which resulted to the Resolution from UN
Summit on Environment and Development in Rio De Janero, Brazil in 1992. Two pilot projects have
been designated in Trang Municipality and Nakornratchasima Municipality which was later on,
extended to Lampoon Municipality. The pilot projects focus on supporting the local communities to
learn how to assess prepare their own environmental status, to campaign the awareness on natural
resources conservation and the environment, and to support people’s participation on maintenance
and use of the natural resources.