THON THAMRONGNAWASAWAT

WHY HIM? Tourism is crucial to Thailand’s economy, but it has also decimated the country’s coral reefs. In an attempt to save these delicate ecosystems, Thon persuaded the Thai government to temporarily close some islands to tourists this year, including Koh Phi Phi Leh, which was made famous by the film The Beach starring Leonardo Dicaprio. The closures have allowed the islands to recover, at least a little, from the onslaught of visitors. Thon hopes to see further improvement in the coming months.