The MAP Asia office is directly involved in managing and facilitating a variety of community-based programmes within the North Andaman region of Thailand. The projects are being carried out in fisheries dependent villages along the Andaman coast in Krabi, Phang Nga and Ranong provinces. In collaboration with partnering organizations Naucrates and Andaman Discoveries, MAP Asia is working toward empowering local communities through the following:

1. Youth Environmental Education Programs

2. Natural Resource Capacity Building Efforts

3. Conservation, Management and Restoration Program
4. Community-based tourism (CBT) initiative
5. Supplementary livelihood development projects

Contact: Jim Enright, Asia Regional Coordinator
Email: mapasia@mangroveactionproject.org

Koh Phra Thong Project (Andaman Sea Coast)

•Ban Lions Community Natural Resource Conservation and Management Project

The Lions village is a newly created post-tsunami community established with support from Lions Clubs International. It was developed in response to the displacement of tsunami victims from several villages on the island of Koh Phra Thong. In 2008, MAP and partnering organization Naucrates initiated a two year "Community Natural Resource Conservation and Management Project" with funding from The Lion Foundation, Thailand. Some of the project's goals and objectives include: introducing environmentally friendly practices to improve the living conditions of the Ban Lion village community; strengthening local community capacity to implement conservation programs; increase scientific knowledge of the biology and conservation of marine turtles while involving villagers in the protection of their habitats; increrase local environmental awareness; and develop a homestay programme for Thai and foreign visitors.

The project has been largely successful in working toward these goals. In addition to the village "greening" and homestay initiatives, great strides in community environmental education and awareness have occurred through the Community Coastal Resource Centre (CCRC). The CCRC consists of two donated houses converted into a simple community nature and education centre which is the focal point for conservation activities. Furthermore, the project has successfully involved the village in natural resource conservation and management through the creation of a local conservation coordination team, participation in mangrove study, and rehabilitation, along with research, and sea turtle activities. Ultimately, the project shows great potential for continued growth and success.

Additional Resources:

- MAP's Involvement Timeline at Koh Phra Thong

 - ECOT Summary Report: Building Local Capacity on CBT & Natural Resource Management

     - Annex 1: Group management training report (June 2009)

     - Annex 2: CBT Capacity Building Report (June 2009)

     - Annex 3: CBT Study Trip to Koh Yao Noi (June 2009)

    - Annex 4: Report on Seagrass Related Activities

     - Annex 5: Seagrass Workshop Report (Thai)

     - Annex 6: Seagrass Posters (Thai)

     - Annex 7: Seagrass Posters (English)

     - Annex 8: Seagrass Monitoring Procedures (English)

- Ban Lion Project Foundation Report (April 2009)

MAP-Asia would like to acknowledge the financial support of:

• Lions Foundation of Thailand

• Ecumenical Coalition on Tourism

• Tie-dye Products from Ban Lions
  

Since 2007 MAP has been working in conjunction with Andaman Discoveries and Naucrates (NGO's) to develop sustainable livelihoods in Lion Village on Phra Thong (Golden Buddha) Island in the north Andaman region of Thailand. Supporting and promoting sustainable livelihoods is an important tool in stimulating the exchange of ideas and information on the conservation and restoration of mangrove forests and associated habitats.

In 2010 with financial support from NZAID, MAP helped with the formation of a woman's natural tie-dye cooperative in Lions village. This is an island that was severely affected by the Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004. As a result, Lions village was built further inland as a replacement for the original village of Pak Chok, which was completely destroyed during this tragic event. 

The women's cooperative is not only a great source of hope, innovation, but also a much needed supplementary source of family income to their husband’s meagre earnings from small-scale fisheries. Like many traditional fishers they face growing problems from the ravage of trawlers, habitat destruction, and ever increasing diesel fuel costs.  The group members have been striving hard to develop creative new designs and practical products using local knowledge and materials. All of the products are made with 100% natural plant-based dyes and 100% cotton fabric. All dyes are sourced on the island, such as from the barks of mangrove and paper-bark trees, the leaves of Indian Almond and wild passion flower. The women sustainably harvest the materials for their dyes and also to ensure a convenient economical plant supply they grow some dye sources in their community garden.

 By purchasing these beautiful Ban Lions Tye Dye handcrafted products you will not only supporting these women’s livelihood but also their important conservation work. To discover how to order head to the Andaman Discoveries handicrafts web page by clicking here.

•Seagrass Monitoring at Ban Lion

In June 2009, MAP initiated a programme to monitor seagrass with the participation of local people from Ban Lion village. The monitoring follows the scheme of Seagrass-Watch, which has sites in several countries of the Asia-Pacific region. The seagrass meadows near the village are an important fisheries resource, yielding molluscs, crab, shrimp, sea cucumbers, and fish (especially rabbitfish and groupers). The seagrass is also food for the endangered species such as dugongs and sea turtles, which are the focus of important regional conservation efforts. Early monitoring efforts found seagrass feeding trails representing the presence of dugong grazing.  This further supports the need for locals to undertake seagrass conservation measures. Addtionally, there is great concern from the local community about the protection of fisheries stocks from over-exploitation by outsiders. Thier participation in seagrass monitoring improves their stewardship abilities and responsibility for the seagrass environment.

For more information please see article "Lion Village" in Seagrass-Watch Issue 38 September 2009.

in Naucrates News Update.

Barry Bendell, a MAP volunteer, would like to thank the Rufford Small Grants Foundation for supporting this project,  "Community-Based Seagrass Monitoring and Conservation at Phra Thong Island".

•Youth in Action for Next Generations

Youth groups from the Upper Andaman Coast have operated sustainable development projects for several years. Youth in Action for Next Generations (YANG) (a project supported by the EU) is helping to build upon youth's previous efforts by expanding the community network to a global audience. YANG's primary objective is to provide young people the necessary skills to create local actions in favour of sustainable development through global collaboration.

Through a collaborative partnership with Andaman Discoveries, MAP began facilitating the YANG project in support of the youth conservation group in Ban Talae Nok village located on the North Andaman coast. This program provides support while also linking them with youth groups in seven Asian and European countries, including a visit from partners in France and Hungary. By operating their own projects and learning from peers all over the world, youth are given the skills and knowledge to create sustainable development programs. Furthermore, they have taken an active part in decision making, which has had a major impact on resource-use issues affecting their futures. Networking amongst those groups will help to continue to build their capacity in order to accomplish their activities successfully in the community. MAP also assisted in organizing the YANG seminar in Kuraburi which encourages young people to become aware of their involvement in sustainable resource management.

MAP Asia would like to acknowledge the financial support of:

• Pistes-Solidaires of France
• Andaman Discoveries of Thailand
• Cottonwood Foundation of USA
• IUCN - Thailand Program

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