Grants :: Small Grant Facilities :: Mangroves for the future
Community water treatment facility , Thailand © SSereepaowong , 2011
The primary aim of this project was to support community organizing processes that address local environment and development issues, including conserving natural resources.
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.
A total of 225 households in Kingkaew Soi 1 and 16 households in Pu Darm.
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.
The development and outcomes of project activities were documented on community bulletin boards and posters.
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.
Kingkaew Soi 1 and Pu Darm, Phuket, Thailand
1st Oct 2009 to 31st Dec 2010
US$10,860
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.
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