MAP-Asia Hosts China Mangrove Conservation Network Field Study Tour to Thailand
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| Mangrove Tour at Leeled CBT |
Mangrove Action Project
Network (CMCN) and one representative from Shenzhen Spring Environmental
Protection Volunteer Association (SENGO) visited Thailand 16th-25th
August 2014 for a field study trip to learn about mangrove and coastal
conservation efforts in Thailand. During this 10 days trip, the team, led by
the founding director – Dr. Liu Yi, visited numbers of places in Thailand,
including MAP-Asia Office and EMR sites in Trang Province, Leeled
Community-based Tourism in Surat Thani Province, Kao Sam Roi Yod National Park
in Prachuab Khirikan Province, the Sirindhorn International Environmental Park
(SIEP) in Petchaburi Province, Amphawa District in Samut Songkram Province, IUCN
Asia Regional Office (IUCN ARO) and UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (UNEP/ROAP) in
Bangkok, as well as Sea Turtle
Conservation Center Royal Thai Navy in Chonburi Province.
in the morning of 17th August to exchange their experiences about mangrove with MAP
– Asia team, and to understand about the different aspects of MAP’s work, as
well as threats to mangrove in Thailand. The CMCN group was welcomed by the MAP
Asia Coordinator, Jim Enright who led the group in a lively and interesting exchange.
In the afternoon, MAP staff Ms Piyapat Nakornchai, Global Nature Fund (GNF)
Project Manager, took the group to Sikao District to explore a mangrove nursery
and the 3 Community-based Ecological Mangrove Restoration (CBEMR) sites in the
area. The CBEMR project is under the
support of the Global Nature Fund, Ministry for Economic Cooperation and
Development (BMZ), Foundation Ursula Merz and Synchronicity Earth. The team had great fun identifying various
species of mangrove found in the area with many new ones present.
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| MAP-Asia coordinator, Jim Enright, with the CMCN group |
The next day, on 18th
August, the group travelled to Surat
Thani Province to spend a night at the Leeled homestay. This Leeled Community-based
Tourism (CBT) team had been involved in conservation for a long time, and
integrated tourism to promote their conservation activities. After a mangrove
boat ride, Thai cooking experience and an authentic firefly boat tour, the CMCN
had a chance to ask various questions regarding CBT management from the
operating team. They also visited a shrimp paste group and walked along the
mangrove boardwalk nearby the next day. Later, the group headed to and arrived
at Kao Sam Roi Yot National Park (KSRY NP) in Prachuab Khirikan Province in the
evening.
On 19th August, the team went on two
boats to observe a fishing community near the national park, and landed on a
bay to continue their hike to the famous attraction, Phraya Nakorn Cave. In the
afternoon, they cruised along Klong Kao Daeng, (klong means canal) accompanied
by an entertaining local guide. Hua Hin was the destination of the day.
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| Klong Khao Daeng Boat Tour |
The following day, the CMCN members received an
honor from Dr. Sonjai Havanond, the Deputy Director of SIEP, and Khun Areeporn
Sittiyanpaiboon, the Head of Research and Development Group of SIEP, who
welcomed the team and provided the information about SIEP’s mangrove
conservation efforts, inspired by the Royal members. The CMCN group watched a
video about SIEP and Royal Initiatives, walked the mangrove educational trail,
and went through several environment- and energy-related exhibitions in the
main SIEP building. After SIEP, the group headed to Amphawa District in order
to experience another firefly tour, and spent a night there.
travelled to Bangkok to visit the IUCN Asia Regional Office (IUCN ARO), as well
as UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
(UNEP/ROAP). At the IUCN ARO, the group was welcomed by Dr. Scott Perkin – Head of Natural Resources Group,
IUCN Asia and Dr. Robert Mather – Head, Southeast Asia
Group, IUCN Asia. Then, they had a
chance to learn about Mangrove for the Future (MFF) works from Mr. Raquib Amin
– Project Manager of MFF Programme, and later Dr. Chamniern Vorratnchaiphan –
Country Representative IUCN Thailand shared the stories of the works in
Thailand. Afterward, Dr. Liu Yi shared the mangrove conservation work of CMCN
to the IUCN Asia team. During this presentation by Dr. Yi, Ms. Aban Marker Kabraji – IUCN Asia Regional Director joined the
IUCN team and showed interest in collaborating with the CMCN. This visit was made possible thanks to the
coordination of Dr. Saroj Srisai – Programme Coordinator, Natural Resources
Group, Asia.
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| Mangrove Restoration at SIEP |
In the afternoon of the same day, the CMCN
staff went to the UNEP/ROAP office to gain some knowledge about the UNEP’s
works. They also shared their mangrove conservation work in China with the
members from UNEP team, which include Mr. Jerker Tamelander – the Head of UNEP
Coral Reef Unit, Ms. Angela Lentisco – Ecosystem
Management Team, and Mr. Jinhua
Zhang – Programme Officer, Science Policy Interface.
morning for Sattahip near Pattaya, where the Sea Turtle Conservation Center
Royal Thai Navy locates. They learned about the sea turtle situation in
Thailand, and expressed that products made from parts of sea turtles and other
wild animals should not be bought by tourists. The following day, some of the
crew enjoyed temples in Bangkok, whereas others went to other attractions.
have gained valuable experiences and had a great time in Thailand. We also
support the energetic team to keep up their great mangrove conservation work in
China.
The following letter was received from CMCN:
information with CMCN for over 10 years now and in 2013, Jim Enright of MAP-Asia
Coordinator was invited as a guest speaker to a mangrove workshop organized by
CMCN in Xiamen, Fujian. In 2012, Martin
Keeley, MAP’s Education Director, introduced MAP’s Marvelous Mangrove education
curriculum to schools in Xiamen through CMCN facilitation coordination.