Promotion of Learning for Mangrove Conservation

 
A volunteer from Andaman Discoveries give an overview about the coastal conservation in Ban Ta Lay Nok and adjacent areas in Kuraburi to the delegates from Sri Lanka.

A volunteer from Andaman Discoveries give an overview about ... , Ban Ta Lay Nok, Phang Nga, Thailand © MFF/Siriporn Sriaram, 2012

Objectives

Specific Objectives:

1. To build capacity of youth groups on significant values of mangrove and related ecosystems which directly and indirectly generate community livelihood benefit

2. To put into practical use the capacity such as for local tourism and community-based research

Background

Implementing NGO/CBO: Andaman Discoveries: Established as an NGO in 2004 to originally provide immediate relief assistance to the victims. After the critical period, the organization becomes focused on an issue of community livelihood. The work carried out on the issue included English language training, computer use and community leader skill. Currently, the organization still maintains the assistance to the communities through eco-tourism and identification of market for community products for supplementary income, whilst encouraging traditional livelihood.

 

Location of project: Mangrove area of about 2,500 ha at Baan Thungrak Village in Phang Nga Province’s Kuraburi District – an area with mangrove around the banks of several canal connecting to Kuraburi  Estuary and mangrove along the coast of Kuraburi  Bay. With the Mae Nang Khao Mountain Range on one side and a forest reserve on the other, the location is found with 32 mangrove species. Half of the area is cultivated land with the other half a favorable ground for fishery. Due to unregulated use of natural resources, the ecosystem of the location is degrading at an alarming rate.

 

Major stakeholders (องค์กรที่เข้าร่วมกิจกรรม และสนับสนุน)

1. Mangrove Development Station 17

2. Chevron CO., Ltd.

3. IUCN Thailand

4. Petroleum Authority of Thailand

5. Thailand Environment Institute

 

Target beneficiaries

50 out of 463 households in project location who earn living through agricultural practice (mostly oil palm and para-rubber) as well as fishery. Fishery during rainy season for those members who practice agriculture (about 50 %) is for supplementary income, while the other 50 % depends upon fishery for consumption and sales to generate income. The per capita income is THB 60,000.

Outputs

Expected outputs

Main  Activities (กิจกรรม)

Main  Anticipated  Result

(ผลที่คาดว่าจะได้รับ)

1. Building capacity of youth group (students) to learn mangrove conservation based on Reef-to-Ridge approach, namely; data collection, survey, site study, nature trail, exhibition on mountainous forest to mangroves ecosystems (กิจกรรม 1+3) 

2. Enhancing the capacity of youth group through  the primary research method to monitor changes of mangrove ecosystem (กิจกรรม 2)

3. Building a site study and demonstration plot of artificial fish habitat (Baan Pla) (กิจกรรม 4)

4. Building young tour guides for sharing knowledge on mangroves conservation and coastal ecosystem services  (กิจกรรม 5)

1. Emergence of young tour guides of at least 50 students from Baan Tung Rak Chai Pat School who are knowledgeable and capable on knowledge sharing for conservation of mangroves ecosystem.

2. Data collection over mangroves area applied and integrated into local resources monitoring plan and future land use plan

3. At least one plot of artificial fish habitat (Baan Pla) for being a site study and demonstration plot to communities

 

 

 

Accomplishments and challenges

Accomplishments

  • Artificial fish habitats resulted in increasing quantity of fishes, which could be interpreted as direct benefit. Indirect benefit from this activity could be evinced by increased awareness and more active participation in conservation of their coastal/marine resources.
  • In monsoon season, conserved mangrove area in canals was a better fishing area for community livelihood, where the catch was sufficient. In addition, the artificial reefs seemed to make community fishing easier.
  • The youth acquired sufficient knowledge to care and take action to protect their natural resources, from reef-to-ridge - their valued treasure.
  • The community started thinking to set up a management plan and community regulation on fishing and use of coastal/marine resources in a more sustainable approach.
  • Amount of aquatic animals, i.e. fishes, crabs in conservation zones are explicitly increased because of artificial fish habitats and community conservation effort.

Challenges

  • Weather condition (monsoon season) delayed several project activities.
  • As children did not recognize much about threats in their environment, building awareness was of utmost important.
  • Project duration is too short for effective evaluation process on awareness and capacity. 

Contributions to cross-cutting themes

Gender equality 

  • Women participation was mainstreamed from the beginning of the project including planning, implementing and monitoring and evaluation. 

Lessons Learned

  • Working with youth should be as continuous as possible.
  • Protection notification by words of mouth was not so effective as publicized material such as posters
  • Fish habitat would be replicated in other communities, especially, TEI had requested pictures as an example for possible replication. 

Project Facts

Country

Location

Mangrove area of about 2,500 ha at Baan Thungrak Village in Phang Nga Province’s Kuraburi District – an area with mangrove around the banks of several canal connecting to Kuraburi Estuary and mangrove along the coast of Kuraburi Bay.

Topic

Duration

19th Jun 2012 to 31st Aug 2013

MFF Grant Amount

300,000 THB

Co-financing Partner

From (งบจาก)

In cash (เงินสด)

In kind (แรงงาน สิ่งของเครื่องใช้ ที่ดิน ฯลฯ)

Communities

-

52,000

Total (THB)

-

52,000

Implementing Partner

Ms Nattaya Chaktira นางสาวณัฏยา เสกธีระ      

Email info@andamancommunitytourism.com

เยาวชนมีความรู้และความเข้าใจเรื่องประโยชน์จากระบบนิเวศป่าชายเลน และสามารถนำความรู้นั้นมาถ่ายทอดให้แก่ผู้อื่นโดยการเป็นมัคคุเทศก์รุ่นเยาว์

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Promotion of Learning for Mangrove Conservation

Posted on: 27th Nov 2013

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