Mangroves for the future

 
Community water treatment facility

Community water treatment facility , Thailand © SSereepaowong , 2011

Objectives

The primary aim of this project was to support community organizing processes that address local environment and development issues, including conserving natural resources.

Background

Kingkaew Soi 1 is a semi-urban community of about 385 households. Its residents pursue various occupations, ranging from providing general and professional services to running small businesses and fishing. As a new community with a diverse background, it still lacks appropriate infrastructure. An estimated 40% of residents still depend on local mangrove forests for fishing and other daily needs.
In 2007, members of the community launched a network with over 30 similar communities around Phuket to rehabilitate degraded mangroves. They received support from the Community Organization Development Institute, a public agency, and the government’s Mangrove Development Station 23 in Phuket. The network has carried out various projects similar to the current one, and now manages 48 of the 290 hectares of remaining mangrove forest in Phuket. Community members have also established a savings project.
Pu Darm, the second target community, is situated at the northern end of Phuket.

Target beneficiaries

A total of 225 households in Kingkaew Soi 1 and 16 households in Pu Darm.

Outputs

  • Launching of capacity-building programmes on community waste management, coastal resource management and demarcating mangrove areas for reforestation and conservation. 
  • In Pu Darm, installation of a community-wide filtration system for reducing excessive nutrient run-off in wastewater from households.
  • Capacity of community members built for managing the wastewater filtration system, reducing run-off into the 100-hectare mangrove area next to the village.
  • Establishment of links between target communities and other communities who had heard about and wanted to learn more about the project.

Accomplishments and challenges

At Kingkaew, 48 hectares of mangroves were officially demarcated and managed as a community forest, and a plan prepared for their management. Within this forest, a small communal plot of the medicinal plant sea holly (Acanthus ebracteatus) has been protected.
Pu Darm community has received many visitors, both Thai and foreign, wanting to learn about its innovative wastewater treatment system. The system has now been shared with communities in neighbouring countries such as Myanmar.

Contributions to cross-cutting themes

Communications

The development and outcomes of project activities were documented on community bulletin boards and posters.

Lessons Learned

Project capacity-building activities, both by the network itself and by MFF, were useful as they were able to promote more systematic learning among network leaders.
Efforts are needed to strengthen mutual understanding between targeted communities and responsible government agencies. The project was able to create community–government links, and also attracted research institutes and other interested organizations to its sites.
Lastly the impact of project activities can be enhanced by linking them to other issues in the community. In this case, the project was successful in building links to activities aimed at resolving land-use conflicts.

Project Facts

Country

Location

Kingkaew Soi 1 and Pu Darm, Phuket, Thailand

Topic

Duration

1st Oct 2009 to 31st Dec 2010

MFF Grant Amount

US$10,860

Co-financing Partner

The Chumchonthai Foundation and Community Organization Development Institute together contributed US$6,667 in cash. The participating communities made an in-kind contribution valued at US$5,000.

Implementing Partner

Mr Chokedee Somprom
Project Coordinator
Phuket Livable Community and City Action
35/50 Moo 3, Rassada Road,
Rassada, Muang,
Phuket 83000, Thailand
Tel:     +66 81 5388028
Email:    chokesp@hotmail.com

Related Publications

Mangrove for the Future

Author: MFF Thailand

Posted on: 4th Dec 2013

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