The Thai government's US$31 billion Land Bridge project faces mounting resistance from marine experts and conservationists who warn that the megaproject's infrastructure could irreversibly damage the country's world-renowned diving destinations and critically important marine ecosystems along both coastlines. The campaign has already attracted over 72,000 petition signatures and united professional divers with environmental law organizations in what critics describe as a fight for Thailand's natural capital.
Why This Matters:
• Diving industry at risk: Construction could generate massive sedimentation threatening iconic sites like Richelieu Rock through coral degradation and habitat destruction.
• Decision deadline approaching: A 90-day feasibility review ordered in May 2026 is now underway, with a high-level committee chaired by Deputy PM Ekniti Nitithanprapas reassessing economic, environmental, and security dimensions.
• Alternative routes available: Experts suggest upgrading existing ports like Laem Chabang or Ranong could achieve similar logistics goals at a fraction of the environmental and financial cost.
What the Land Bridge Actually Entails
The proposed corridor would connect deep-sea ports at Laem Ao Ang in Ranong (Andaman Sea side) and Laem Riw in Chumphon (Gulf of Thailand side) via a 90-kilometer link combining high-capacity roads, dual-track rail, and pipeline systems. The Thai government positions the project as a strategic alternative to the Strait of Malacca, particularly valuable given recent geopolitical disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and increased scrutiny on Southeast Asian maritime chokepoints.
Construction plans call for reclaiming more than 6,900 rai of sea area in Ranong alone, with an additional 5,808 rai in Chumphon. The government is advancing the Southern Economic Corridor (SEC) Act to provide the legal framework, while positioning the entire initiative as worth approximately 1 trillion baht (US$31 billion to US$36 billion depending on estimates).
The route shifted from an earlier Pak Bara-Songkhla proposal to the current Ranong-Chumphon corridor, which has gained renewed political momentum under the Bhumjaithai-led administration and was also advanced by the previous Srettha Thavisin government.
Scientific Evidence of Marine Damage
Marine scientists and environmental experts have issued stark warnings about the project's ecological footprint, pointing to what they describe as flawed and inaccurate government impact assessments.
Dredging and port construction would generate enormous sediment plumes that directly harm coral reef colonies and reduce marine ecosystem fertility. The government's Environmental and Health Impact Assessment (EHIA) reported an average of 47.57 benthic animals per square meter in affected areas, but independent field surveys documented 1,685 benthic animals per square meter—a discrepancy suggesting potential loss of billions of bottom-dwelling organisms that form the foundation of the marine food web.
Construction zones sit adjacent to the Ranong Biosphere Reserve's wetlands, vital breeding grounds for sea turtles and critical habitat for endangered species including pale-capped pigeons, Nordmann's greenshanks, and plain-pouched hornbills. The proposed Ranong deep-sea port lies near Koh Phayam, an area celebrated for its intact coral reef colonies and diverse aquatic life.
Increased vessel traffic through these sensitive marine routes would alter water currents, disrupting migration patterns and the feeding and breeding cycles of marine animals. Underwater noise from ship propellers, combined with risks of oil contamination, threatens to compound the damage from initial construction impacts.
Environmentalists emphasize that marine ecosystems function as interconnected networks, meaning degradation in one zone radiates outward to surrounding habitats. Ranong's coastline, recognized as a particularly fertile area for marine natural resources, faces vulnerability that extends far beyond the immediate construction footprint.
The Divers' Campaign
Digitalay, a marine conservation network, launched the "Divers Against Land Bridge" campaign to mobilize opposition from Thailand's substantial diving community. Nat Sumanateme, a professional marine wildlife photographer and Digitalay member, has been producing photos and underwater videos to raise public awareness about threatened dive sites.
The campaign highlights Richelieu Rock, consistently ranked among the world's top diving destinations, as a symbol of what stands to be lost. The site's vibrant coral ecosystems and exceptional marine biodiversity attract divers globally, contributing significantly to Thailand's tourism economy.
Beyond Digitalay, the opposition has coalesced into a multi-organization effort. The Environmental Law Foundation (EnLAW) partnered with Greenpeace to launch a nationwide "Stop SEC Act & Land Bridge" campaign, establishing the website stop-sec.com and gathering 72,648 signatures as of May 6, 2026, with expectations to exceed 100,000.
The Southern People's Council, represented by member Somboon Kamhaeng, has mobilized civic groups across southern provinces to partner with NGOs in opposing both the Land Bridge and the broader Southern Economic Corridor framework. Around 100 activists from civil society networks in Krabi gathered to submit a formal petition opposing the SEC bill and the megaproject.
Local fishing communities, whose livelihoods depend entirely on healthy marine ecosystems, represent another constituency at risk. These small-scale fisherfolk, particularly those operating around the wetlands adjacent to the Ranong Biosphere Reserve, face potential displacement and resource depletion.
What This Means for Residents
For those living in southern Thailand, the project carries direct implications beyond environmental concerns. A Nida Poll conducted in early May 2026 found that while a majority of southern residents had heard of the project and showed general support, significant worries centered on environmental impacts to both land and sea ecosystems.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) raised concerns about inadequate public participation in the decision-making process and called for broader consultations, especially regarding environmental and health impact assessments. Critics argue the government has failed to provide detailed information such as exact shipping routes, limiting the public's ability to assess localized risks.
Tourism operators, particularly dive shops and marine tour companies, face business model uncertainty. If sedimentation and increased vessel traffic degrade the marine sites that currently draw international visitors, these businesses lose their competitive advantage in the global tourism market.
The broader question centers on opportunity cost: whether a US$31 billion investment in new infrastructure represents the best allocation of resources, or whether upgrading existing ports and transport links could achieve similar logistics improvements without the environmental trade-offs.
Alternative Approaches on the Table
Infrastructure experts have proposed several less disruptive alternatives that could accomplish Thailand's strategic objectives without constructing entirely new deep-sea ports.
Upgrading Ranong Port on the Andaman coast and enhancing overland connectivity to existing highways and railways linking Ranong to Thailand's major hubs represents one option. This approach would achieve many of the Land Bridge's connectivity goals without large-scale land clearance and sea reclamation.
Laem Chabang Port, Thailand's largest container facility located in the Eastern Economic Corridor, already connects to the Thailand-Laos-China railway and sits near established industrial zones. Leveraging this existing infrastructure could position the facility to serve as Southeast Asia's primary eastern gateway without requiring new port construction on environmentally sensitive coastlines.
Some analysts suggest a structurally smaller project—four to five times smaller than the current proposal—oriented around Thai exporter access rather than massive transshipment volume could deliver tangible value with lower fiscal and environmental risk. Such an approach might focus investment on a double-track rail line from the Eastern Seaboard to Ranong, configured to serve existing BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative) trade routes.
The project also faces regional competition that may undermine its commercial viability. Malaysia's East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), backed by Chinese financing, aims to strengthen Malaysia's role in regional supply chains. Singapore's Tuas Mega Port expansion is designed to further consolidate Singapore's dominance as Southeast Asia's premier transshipment hub. Indonesia's Patimban Port project addresses industrial export bottlenecks. These competing initiatives could limit the Land Bridge's ability to capture the shipping traffic volumes needed to justify its massive price tag.
The UNESCO Complication
Marine scientists warn the project risks undermining Thailand's bid for UNESCO World Heritage status for the Andaman Sea, an area encompassing six national parks and recognized for exceptional biodiversity. Securing World Heritage designation could generate long-term economic benefits through enhanced tourism appeal and international conservation funding—benefits that would be foreclosed if construction proceeds and degrades the nominated ecosystems.
The government's EHIA has been criticized for using a study radius of only five kilometers and for inadequately assessing major risks including earthquakes, oil spills, and fires—all relevant given the project's location along active shipping lanes and seismically active zones.
Government Review Timeline
The 90-day feasibility review ordered by Prime Minister Anutin in May 2026 represents a critical window for opponents to present evidence and for the high-level committee to reassess projections. The committee, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas, is tasked with evaluating the project across economic, environmental, and security dimensions while factoring in global geopolitical uncertainty.
Whether the review genuinely reopens fundamental questions about the project's viability or serves primarily as a procedural step before approval remains unclear. The government has consistently framed the Land Bridge as essential for diversifying global shipping routes and positioning Thailand as a regional logistics hub.
For residents, businesses, and environmental advocates, the coming months will determine whether Thailand commits to a megaproject with irreversible ecological consequences or opts for alternatives that balance economic development with preservation of the natural capital that underpins both fishing and tourism industries along both coasts.
