Mangrove Nature Trail and Learning Center Opening!!!
By Isabel Robinson,
MAP-Asia Intern
MAP-Asia Intern
19th of December of 2016 was a milestoneday for the Mangrove Action Project (MAP) staff and the community of Baan Ta
Sanook (TSN), located in Phang Nga Province, South Thailand. After months of
planning, building and organising, the Mangrove Nature Trail and the Learning
Center was officially opened at a special ceremony and finally ready to receive
visitors!
The mangrove nature trail is a 70-meter walkway which is
partly raised concrete so is always dry even at high tide and traverses through
a biodiverse mangrove stand allowing you to have a close-up experience with the
mangrove ecosystem. It was constructed carefully so not a single mangrove tree
had to be cut down. Mangrove species
signs are located along the trail as well as mangrove ecology interpretation
sign-boards and ends at a Learning Center, a small wooden shelter built over-top of a pond. Information
about mangrove conservation and ecosystem, are located at the Learning Center
which is perfect for environmental education school groups. This project has been funded by DAIMLER AG, the maker of Mercedes Benz vehicles as a
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project, and is managed by Global Nature
Fund (GNF) of Germany.
This project puts together people from different villages
creating a place to discuss mangrove conservation and restoration ideas within
each other, and most importantly encouraging people to work together and create
long-term successful projects. The learning center is a place to support mangrove environmental education of local
schools, so kids as the future representatives of these communities are not
only learning inside the classroom but also outside in the middle of the real
living mangrove nature.
creating a place to discuss mangrove conservation and restoration ideas within
each other, and most importantly encouraging people to work together and create
long-term successful projects. The learning center is a place to support mangrove environmental education of local
schools, so kids as the future representatives of these communities are not
only learning inside the classroom but also outside in the middle of the real
living mangrove nature.
On the grand
opening day, we had a beautiful sunny morning, with about 120 participants,
including people from the official governments in Phang-Nga province
like the Deputy Chief Executive of the
Provincial Administrative Organization (PAO), representatives from the
Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), the Head Master of TSN
school. Also, it was amazing to have the participation from the different
communities where MAP has carried projects and has worked with over the past
number of years to help celebrate this special occasion. Village representatives came from Ban Bang
Kang Kao and Ban Leam MaKham in Trang and from Krabi province Ban Klong Lu and
Ban Nai Nang. The importance of the nature trail and the Learning Center for
the protection of the mangroves was mentioned a number of times during the
opening, inviting everyone to be part of this project.
opening day, we had a beautiful sunny morning, with about 120 participants,
including people from the official governments in Phang-Nga province
like the Deputy Chief Executive of the
Provincial Administrative Organization (PAO), representatives from the
Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), the Head Master of TSN
school. Also, it was amazing to have the participation from the different
communities where MAP has carried projects and has worked with over the past
number of years to help celebrate this special occasion. Village representatives came from Ban Bang
Kang Kao and Ban Leam MaKham in Trang and from Krabi province Ban Klong Lu and
Ban Nai Nang. The importance of the nature trail and the Learning Center for
the protection of the mangroves was mentioned a number of times during the
opening, inviting everyone to be part of this project.
 |
| In middle, MAP’s Technical Advisor, Mr. Sompoch Nimsantijaroen, explaining the purpose of the learning center to the Government Officials of Phang Nga Province |
MAP hopes the Mangrove
Nature Trail and Learning Center is well used and maintained for many years to
come inspiring all users to learn and protect this vital ecosystem.
Nature Trail and Learning Center is well used and maintained for many years to
come inspiring all users to learn and protect this vital ecosystem.