MAP Donor Keen to Learn from Local Communities
By Manon Whittaker, MAP Asia Intern.
A visitor from one of MAP’s funders,
Synchronicity Earth, based in London UK, came to Thailand to see and learn
first-hand about mangrove restoration!
Synchronicity Earth, based in London UK, came to Thailand to see and learn
first-hand about mangrove restoration!
From March 29th to 31st
MAP Asia had the great pleasure to receive Jim Pettiward, communications
strategist, at Synchronicity Earth a funder and collaborator of MAP since 2014.
This is the first time MAP Asia has received a visitor from Synchronicity
Earth. “It’s much more interesting and valuable
to see and experience projects on the ground rather than just read reports, if
you want to really understand the issues” stated Jim.
MAP Asia had the great pleasure to receive Jim Pettiward, communications
strategist, at Synchronicity Earth a funder and collaborator of MAP since 2014.
This is the first time MAP Asia has received a visitor from Synchronicity
Earth. “It’s much more interesting and valuable
to see and experience projects on the ground rather than just read reports, if
you want to really understand the issues” stated Jim.
MAP Asia staff had the
occasion to show Jim Pettiward around six mangrove restoration sites utilizing
the Community-based Ecological Mangrove Restoration (CBEMR) method within the
provinces of Krabi and Phang Nga, Southern Thailand. The local community
representatives at different sites were available allowing us to exchange
information and ask questions directly to the villagers concerned with the
mangrove restoration projects.
occasion to show Jim Pettiward around six mangrove restoration sites utilizing
the Community-based Ecological Mangrove Restoration (CBEMR) method within the
provinces of Krabi and Phang Nga, Southern Thailand. The local community
representatives at different sites were available allowing us to exchange
information and ask questions directly to the villagers concerned with the
mangrove restoration projects.
 |
Informal exchange of information with Bang Non Mee Lam, local conservation leader of Klang Island, Krabi. |
On the first evening after welcoming Jim to
Krabi Town with a taste of the delicious Thai food, a powerpoint summary
presentation was given on the 4 year “Mangrove
Restoration and Reforestation in Asia, a Project for Knowledge Exchange and
Action to Reduce Climate Change, and Protect Forest Biodiversity” project. This regional project was administered by the
Global Nature Fund (GNF) of Germany and MAP’s projects were co-funded by
Synchronicity Earth.
Krabi Town with a taste of the delicious Thai food, a powerpoint summary
presentation was given on the 4 year “Mangrove
Restoration and Reforestation in Asia, a Project for Knowledge Exchange and
Action to Reduce Climate Change, and Protect Forest Biodiversity” project. This regional project was administered by the
Global Nature Fund (GNF) of Germany and MAP’s projects were co-funded by
Synchronicity Earth.
On the second day, we visited four of MAP’s
mangrove restoration sites in Krabi Province: one site at Ban Lang Da started
in 2009 and three other sites on Klang Island.
mangrove restoration sites in Krabi Province: one site at Ban Lang Da started
in 2009 and three other sites on Klang Island.
The Klong Lu homestay, a GNF project
partner, was used as our base on the island and a longtail boat driven by the
owner, Bang Bao and his 10 year-old son transported us from the mainland and toured
us through the mangroves on route to the family bungalow operation. While
motoring along the Krabi River we were welcomed by a playful pod of Indo
Pacific hump-backed dolphins which did a great job of putting on a show for Jim’s
birthday! The Klong Lu homestay is involved in eco-tourism and with MAP’s
support, has developed a short interpretative mangrove nature trail around the
mangrove restoration site which was initiated just 6 month ago. The small loop
walkway will be a great tool to educate visitors of the Klong Lu Homestay,
daytrip visitors to the island, along with school kids from the local area.
partner, was used as our base on the island and a longtail boat driven by the
owner, Bang Bao and his 10 year-old son transported us from the mainland and toured
us through the mangroves on route to the family bungalow operation. While
motoring along the Krabi River we were welcomed by a playful pod of Indo
Pacific hump-backed dolphins which did a great job of putting on a show for Jim’s
birthday! The Klong Lu homestay is involved in eco-tourism and with MAP’s
support, has developed a short interpretative mangrove nature trail around the
mangrove restoration site which was initiated just 6 month ago. The small loop
walkway will be a great tool to educate visitors of the Klong Lu Homestay,
daytrip visitors to the island, along with school kids from the local area.
 |
Jim Pettiward (green shirt) and MAP staff on the longtail boat to Klang Island |
The final day, was highlighted by a visit to
the Nai Nang’s apiculture group, in Krabi Province. This community has been
successfully producing honey partly from mangrove flowers and are, now, also
creating value added products such as honey hand soap, shampoo and conditioner
with the support of MAP. During our time there, community conservation leaders
showed us how they harvest the honey from the hand-made bee boxes. We even got
a taste of the freshly collected honey, YUMMY!
the Nai Nang’s apiculture group, in Krabi Province. This community has been
successfully producing honey partly from mangrove flowers and are, now, also
creating value added products such as honey hand soap, shampoo and conditioner
with the support of MAP. During our time there, community conservation leaders
showed us how they harvest the honey from the hand-made bee boxes. We even got
a taste of the freshly collected honey, YUMMY!
 |
Freshly harvested honey tasting at Nai Nang village |
After wild honey tasting we headed north to
the restoration site in Ta-Sanook village, Phang Nga province where the village
chief and some members of the conservation group showed us the ongoing
construction of their new mangrove nature trail which plans to be completed by
May 2016. It will allow local school kids to learn about mangrove ecosystems
first-hand without getting their feet wet.
the restoration site in Ta-Sanook village, Phang Nga province where the village
chief and some members of the conservation group showed us the ongoing
construction of their new mangrove nature trail which plans to be completed by
May 2016. It will allow local school kids to learn about mangrove ecosystems
first-hand without getting their feet wet.
 |
Visiting Ta-Sanook CBEMR restoration site with the village chief and community leaders |
The field trip was a great way to showcase
some of MAP’s mangrove restoration project with full involvement of local
communities who are pursuing supplementary livelihoods supported by the
project. It also allowed us all to exchange ideas and get valuable advice and
impressions from Jim Pettiward of Synchronicity Earth and key community
leaders.
some of MAP’s mangrove restoration project with full involvement of local
communities who are pursuing supplementary livelihoods supported by the
project. It also allowed us all to exchange ideas and get valuable advice and
impressions from Jim Pettiward of Synchronicity Earth and key community
leaders.