Highlighting climate change adaptation actions Evaluating and Improving the Management Effectiveness of Thailand’s Marine and Coastal Protected Areas (MEE) Project Grantee and Partners: Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) in collaboration with IUCN’s World Commission on Protected Areas (IUCN-WCPA) , WWF and DNP through SAMPAN project
Project Background Thailand’s MCPAs are very important assets in terms of biodiversity conservation, economic development and livelihood security. For example, activity generated through tourism in MCPAs contributes significantly to both provincial and national economic development (MFF Thailand NCB, 2008). MCPAs are also important for the livelihoods of many local communities who depend on them for resources such as food and forest products and for employment and business generation.
In recognition of the need to improve management effectiveness in MCPAs, the Thailand Government through the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) is seeking to adopt an MEE system and to evaluate, in a comprehensive, systematic and participatory way, the effectiveness of their MCPA system. It also seeks to better equip Thailand’s MCPA system to withstand negative impacts including from climate change and marine and coastal development pressures.
Content prepared by MFF Thailand Programme with support Oliver Abrenilla, UNEP Seconded Consultant/Photo and layout: Sriaram S.
Climate change adaptation considerations Climate
change
ecosystems
is
over
likely time.
to
affect
Climate
natural change
considerations have figured prominently in previous MEE exercises recognizing the growing threat posed to MCPAs.
International best practice
approaches to climate change adaptation in PAs will be referenced in both the site and system level assessments.
This project will strengthen the
resilience of MCPAs in Thailand to respond to climate change impacts by improving management effectiveness of PAs.
The project will also help
strengthen the role of MCPAs in disaster risk reduction. It is also possible that activities to build resilience to climate change impacts will be implemented at MFF showcase sites (depending on whether the MEE findings and recommendations identify climate change as a priority issue to address).
Contact person: Dr Songtam Suksawang, Director, National Park Research Division, DNP Telephone: +66 (2) 561 0777 Facsimile: +66 (2) 579 6666 Email: s_songtam@dnp.go.th
Dr Naomi Doak Regional Protected Areas Programme IUCN Asia Regional Office 63 Sukhumvit Soi 39 (Prompong) Wattana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand Tel: + 66 (0)2 662 4029 Fax: + 66 (0)2 662 4387. Email: naomi.doak@iucn.org
Produced by MFF secretariat with financial support of NORAD and SIDA