Thailand Mangroves for the Future Small Grants Facility -MFF SGFProgress Report of Thailand MFF Small Grants Facility for August 2010-January 2011
1. Status of the 15 projects At the final period of implementation, 13 projects are in the process of wrap-up. Two projects; 1) Collective Rehabilitation and Conservation of Mangrove in Ao (gulf) Baan Don, Suratthani province and 2) Rehabilitation of Mangrove and Beach Forest of Tambol Klong Prasong, Krabi province have completely closed and their completion reports are in the following Annex I. 2. Project monitoring visits During the period, 4 projects in Phang Nga and Phuket province were visited by the MFF SGF team, NCB members and Thailand MFF Coordinator. Please see the reports that follow as Annex II. 3. Workshop and Sharing Implementation of MFF SGF Thailand 3.1 MFF Thailand Strategic and Action Plan for Phase II Collaboratively, MFF SGF team has been participating in NCB group discussion and meetings on developing strategic and action plan for phase II. In a more strategic and systematical approach , however, MFF Thailand organized a workshop during 26-28 August 2010, where NCB members , representatives of 3 MFF big projects and 15 projects of MFF SGF participated to share lesson learned, experiences on implementation including part of monitoring and evaluation and initiate networking amongst various projects and relevant governmental agencies. The result of the workshop was integrated further in developing the MFF Phase II strategic and action plan. Please find Annex III for the findings of workshop on SGF’s view. 3.2 Seventh Meeting of the Regional Steering Committee (RSC-7) During 4-6 November 2010 towards the RSC-7 meeting in Sri Lanka, Thailand MFF SGF Coordinator participated in MFF SGF experience-sharing event to share his fruitful experience and aspect in managing small grants fund. 3.3 National Recognition on SGF Project On 13-14 December 2010,at the launching of INCA- Increasing Coastal Community Capacity for Climate Change Adaptation, a collaborative project of UNDP and Thai Red Cross Society, there was an initiation of competition for “the best community adaptation to impact of climate change. One MFF SGF grantee from Chumphorn province that implemented the project “Strengthening the conservation for Mangrove, Marine and Coastal Resources of Ao (Gulf) Thong Toam Yai” won the prize as the national best practice. This project is led by Mr. Watchrin Sawangkarn, as the project leader that was being the project representative for the event.
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Thailand Mangroves for the Future Small Grants Facility -MFF SGF3.4 MFF SGF Mid-Course Evaluation Workshop On 21 January 2011, all 15 SGF projects participated in the Mid-Course Evaluation and pre-completion Workshop in Phuket province. Apart from SGF grantees, those participants were from SGF team, NCB members and MFF Thailand Coordinator. The workshop was aim to evaluate achievements and lessons learned from implementing projects in Phase I and seek opportunity for forging environment network. Besides, there were some project media and products to showcase over the event such as pamphlet, CD, posters, T-shirts and Pandanus handicraft products.
3.5 Workshop of National Research Plan on Mangrove and Coastal Resources During 14-15 February 2011 in Ayudthaya province, the workshop was organized by Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) to brainstorm and discuss for developing the national research plan on mangrove and coastal resources. Invited by DMCR, leaders of 4 MFF SGF projects participatee in the course of workshop to share experience and lessons learnt based on collective local knowledge. The 4 leaders are 1) Mr. Noppadol Wangsalae; Planting Pandanus for protection of Mangrove project, Krabi 2) Mr. Nont Meelam; Rehabilitaiton of Mangrove and Beach Forest of Tambol Klong Prasong project, Krabi 3) Mr. Pichet Pandam; Building Community Network for Management of Mangrove and Coastal Resources project, Phuket 4) Mr. Watcharin Sawaengkarn, Strengthening the conservation for Mangrove, Marine and Coastal Resources of Ao (Gulf) Thong Toam Yai project, Chumporn.
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Thailand Mangroves for the Future Small Grants Facility -MFF SGF-
Annex I: Completion Report 1. Project No: THA/MFFSGF/08/02 Project Title: Collective Rehabilitation and Conservation of Mangrove in Ao(Gulf) Baan Don Implementing NGO/CBO: Ao Baan Don Conservation Network. The network was established as a conservation group about three decades ago by community members in Ao (Gulf) Baan Don of Suratthani Province who experience degradation of natural resources in the locality and wish to collectively launch conservation activities. Conservation activities were mainly financed by donations of members in communities. The group has been cooperating with NGOs and other development projects. In 2008, the group summarizes its experiences and institutionalize the group with clearer operational structure. Location of project: An integrated marine and coastal ecosystems of the Gulf of Thailand/South China Sea in Ao (Gulf) Baan Don of Surathani Province with 120 km.long, the area once was rated as one of the richest spot in the Gulf of Thailand with various types of habitats such as mangrove, sea grass, and coral reefs. Now the area was degraded through aqua culture, destructive fishing (push and drag net by big entrepreneurs), land based pollution , conflict in resources use , and lack of persistent sectoral cooperation. The location was proclaimed as a wetland with international importance in August 1, 2000. Target Population: 1,445 out of 2,890 households around the gulf with majority earning their living through small-scale fishery and depending upon provisions of coastal resources for livelihood activities. Long-term objectives to support national coastal resources policy: The project aims to contribute to rehabilitating and protecting local coastal resources with at least 20 % increase in mangrove , in integrated manner and at village, Tambol, District and provincial level. MFF SGF approved budget: Baht: 339,500 (งบจากกองทุนปาชายเลนเพื่ออนาคต) Non-MFF resources (งบสมทบจากแหลงอื่น): Baht: 862,500 from major stakeholders as follows: From (งบจาก): CBOs in project location Local Administrative Organizations Provincial Public Health Office Total Date of Participatory Evaluation Number of Beneficiaries/ Participating personnel Number of persons trained/ attending seminars, joining study tours
Expense
In cash (เงินสด) 36,000 378,000 414,000
In kind (แรงงาน สิ่งของ เครื่องใช ที่ดิน ฯลฯ) 439,500 9,000 448,500
30 November 2010 Women: 1,560 Men: 1,250 Children: 850 Women: 180 Men: 120 Children: 150 Amount received from MFF SGF (2 disbursements):THB: 305,550 Total amount spent out of MFF SGF budget: THB: 341,586 Balance: THB : (-36,036) Amount authorized for the final payment: THB: 33,950 Amount of co-financing as follows: Sources: In cash, THB In kind, THB CBOs in project location 36,000 441,586 Local Administrative 9,000 Organization
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Thailand Mangroves for the Future Small Grants Facility -MFF SGFProvincial Public Health Office Total
Activities carried out 1. Building capacity of target population and networks for updated status & situation on an areawide basis (กิจกรรม 1) 2. Demarcating conservation area for natural rehabilitation against illegal fishing boats(กิจกรรม 2) 3. Building capacity of target population on local resources inventory (กิจกรรม 3 และ 4) 4. Producing one set of disseminating material (กิจกรรม 5)
378,000
-
414,000
450,586
Results and Indicators 1. Increased capacity , both institutionally and technically, of CBOs and their leaders, witnessed by public recognition of community members through local elections (some leaders being elected CEOs of Tambol Administrative Organizations), and of local administrative organizations through more co-financing budget to support project activities 2. Clear demarcation of conservation zone in Tambol Khaothan and Thachang of 18-km long along the coast – being collective management with communities 3. Updated data & information on socio-economy for reference of use among local administrative organizations and households in project location 4. At least 20 core leaders being able to transfer knowledge to others 5. Compiled 500 books on threatened species, both plants and animals, in project location
Project Communication: The project had produced posters for mobile exhibition to make the project/network more visible. Plans and Activities for Sustainability: The Surathani Provincial Fishery Office had solicited a proposal from the network aiming to launch activities among network leaders, CBOs, and women and youth groups in project location. With the proposed budget of THB: 4,900,000, the activities would upscale activities on demarcation of conservation zones, centre of coastal surveillance and livelihood of coastal communities. In this regard, the office would be the project implementer, with the network as advisor.The project would be launched in the year 2011. With the coastal and marine ecosystems better protected and more productive, the network would establish a rotating fund for livelihood of network members, a saving group of the network to assist members with 0.5 % /month interest rate. The two funds would be managed by network members and expected to be self-sufficient in the future. Currently, the network was reaching out to younger generations so that their collective collaboration and activities would result in a more harmonious and smooth picture of conservation, rather than hot and too aggressive producing more conflicts. Experience, Lessons Learnt, Problems and Issues: The problems/issues outlined by the project were as follows: 1. There was a delay in financial management of the network, due to competition for budget among various groups. This was solved by setting up a committee to investigate the situations and strict auditing. 2. Demarcation of conservation in Tambol Khlong Chanark was very difficult, due to conflict of land use between communities and private lucrative business. In coping with this issue, the network coordinated with responsible government agencies, local administrative organizations, and NGOs in project location to come up with a proper approach. I was still difficult. 4
Thailand Mangroves for the Future Small Grants Facility -MFF SGF2. Project No: THA/MFFSGF/09/03 Project Title: Rehabilitation of Mangrove and Beach Forest of Tambol Klong Prasong Implementing NGO/CBO: Environmental Conservation Group of Baan Koh Klang Under an advice from Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, Krabi Branch, the group was established on 28 September 2001 aiming to reduce community conflict, especially, on tourist business competition. Location of project: Four villages under Tambol Klong Prasong with an area of about 26 sq.km, included in Krabi Estuary (Ramsar Site), Muang District, Krabi Province. Target Population: 5,373 persons form 903 families 98 % of which are Muslim with per capita income of THB: 25,000. Direct project participants are from 100 families earning living through integrated patterns of agricultural practices and small-scale fishery. 120 out of 829 households who earn their living through fishery and depend upon provisions of mangrove for livelihood activities. Long-term objectives to support national coastal resources policy: To maintain coastal biological diversity, build knowledge and conservation awareness which would result in sustainable use of coastal resource in Krabi Estuary, contributing to stabilizing global warming and preventing coastal erosion. MFF SGF approved budget: Baht 346,000 : US$ 10,155.56 (งบจากกองทุนปาชายเลนเพื่ออนาคต) Non-MFF resources (งบสมทบจากแหลงอื่น): Baht 170,000 from major stakeholders as follows: From (งบจาก): Environmental Conservation Group of Baan Koh Klang Total (Baht)
In cash (เงินสด) 85,000
Date of Participatory Evaluation Number of Beneficiaries/ Participating personnel Number of persons trained/ attending seminars, joining study tours
Expense
In kind (แรงงาน สิ่งของเครื่องใช ที่ดิน ฯลฯ) 85,000
85,000
85,000
6 December 2010 Women: 130 Men: 60 Children: 140 Women: 110 Men: 55 Children: 40 Amount received from MFF SGF (2 disbursements):THB: 311,400 Total amount spent out of MFF SGF budget: THB: 346,000 Balance: THB : (-34,600) Amount authorized for the final payment: THB: 34,600 Amount of co-financing as follows: Sources: In cash, THB In kind, THB Community & grantee 85,000 Mangrove Development Station 26 67,000 ( Krabi) Total
152,000
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Thailand Mangroves for the Future Small Grants Facility -MFF SGFActivities carried out 1. Building community capacity on both technical and institutional issues through community forum and training 2. Rehabilitating coastal resources and ecosystem : planting mangrove forest and beach forest (กิจกรรมที่3) 3. Raising community awareness, monitoring and evaluating the results (กิจกรรมที่ 4 และ 5)
Results and Indicators 1. Evinced increased capacity of target population in local conservation of marine and coastal resources witnessed through ability to formulate strategy , to collaborate with other major stakeholders and produced 500 booklets of conservation awareness for youth and community groups in Koh Klang Community 2. About 700 seedlings of mangroves being reforested and maintained continuously along Khlong Talu, Khlong Prasong 3. Over 13,000 seedlings of mangroves being reforested in deserted shrimp farms with an area of about four ha
Project Communication: The project has been made more visible through signboards, mobile forum, and handbooks. Plans and Activities for Sustainability: According to the formulated strategy, the project had four approaches for sustainability: 1. Keeping on activities on reforestation, nursery , garbage bank and aqua species release 2. Keeping on capacity building on conservation , migratory birds, garbage bank management 3. Promoting eco-tourism 4. Promoting environmentally-friendly ( bio-fertilizer and IPM) to improve quality of water and soil Experience , Lessons Learnt , Problems and Issues: 1. During high season ( November-February), community members were fairly busy thus limited full participation 2. Dry weather resulted in limit reproduction and reforestation of mangrove species 3. Continuous rains ( during September-November 2010) and storms had damaged reforested seedlings These issues were addressed by re-scheduling of planned activities and re-select areas that appeared more suitable. In general, community participation was sufficient, technical and institutional supports from local administrative organization well received.
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Thailand Mangroves for the Future Small Grants Facility -MFF SGF-
Annex II: Project monitoring visits 1. THA-MFFSGF-09-04/ Strengthening Capacity of Community Network for Phuket Coastal Resource
Country: Project No. / Title: Date of Visit: Location: Visitors:
Project Contact:
Thailand THA-MFFSGF-09-04/ Strengthening Capacity of Community Network for Phuket Coastal Resource Wednesday, January 19, 2011 Muang and Thalarng District , Phuket Province 1. Mr. Poonsin Sreesangkom, National Coordinator 2.Ms. Anongnart Chuachanart, NSC member 3.Assistant Professor Nukul Rattanadakul, NSC member 4.Ms. Suwimol Sereepaowaong, Programme Assistant Mr.Phitaya Yadarm, Project Leader, Phuket Fisher-Folk Network, the grantee
1) BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT / PURPOSE OF VISIT This MFF SGF project proposed to contribute to underpinning MFF strategy on building and encouraging the application of knowledge as well as promoting environmental governance in coastal area. Proposed activities consisted of strengthening capacities of communities based organizations and their network and promoting participatory natural resource management. Awarded THB:375,000 from MFF SG, the activities were launched nearly to the completion of its 12-month duration. Submitting the progress report, the visit aimed to witness result of activities and interact with target community and other stakeholders. 2) FINDINGS AND OBSERVATIONS At Baan (village) Tha La, Thalarng District, one of several coastal target communities, the visiting team interact with project leaders who gave a brief on environment and livelihood situation of the communities. It was found that the village had been under supports of several agencies, one of which was CHARM. The supports had resulted in a synergy of occupation groups in the village such as small scale fishermen, weavers’ group, food processing group and tourist group, and marine community protected zone in front of the village. In term of mangrove restoration, the project managed to maintain as community forest, approximately 60-ha mangrove which the Phuket Mangrove Research Station was the main agency providing technical support. Another target village visited was Baan Kuku in Muang District where the visiting team was briefed about the will and effectiveness of target communities to reclaim mangrove areas back from inappropriate land ownership of individual/private sector. It was confirmed that about 120-ha mangrove was under community management while about 10-ha being reclaimed successfully through legal procedure. There were still some concerns and imminent threats for the two villages visited, even though existing/increased capacity of project leaders was notable. For Baan Tha La, the concerns were infrastructure development in project location. These were less well plan public tourist programme, construction of sea port and private small airfield. For Baan Kuku, which was nearly to the Phuket Provincial town, it was more on land use conflict and related legal issues. Both villages, however, were encountering with urbanization and community waste.
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Thailand Mangroves for the Future Small Grants Facility -MFF SGFIn order to sustain these favourable project outcomes, and ensure enhanced environmental governance, strengthening activities of the network had to be kept on persistently. The project could highlight the outcomes and set a good example for environmental governance in coastal areas.
Baan (village) Tha La, one of target communities, is a coastal community in the northeastern of Phuket, a flatland with mangrove, beach, sea-grass and coral reefs. Public development programmes during the past decades prompted an encroachment to the coastal and marine systems. Recent promotion of environmental governance in this area, however, gave a check to the development to a certain extent.
A closer look at Baan Tha La, the community-managed mangrove area can be seen while the richest spot of sea-grass in Phuket stretches along the coast somewhere on the right. Under community coastal surveillance, five dugongs, a threatened species, were spotted in the sea-grass area.
The community was successful in checking the expansion of coconut plantation (left) into this mangrove area of about 60 ha (right). Thriving mangrove and nipa are seen along the canal asserting the right of community on this mangrove. The community had initiated a construction of mangrove study trail inside.
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Thailand Mangroves for the Future Small Grants Facility -MFF SGF-
Resource inventory, Baan Tha La Community version, contains plant and animal species and how themangrove are being used. The project was successful in compiling the inventory for three target communities so far.
Since Baan Kuku, another target community is closer to the provincial town of Phuket, land use conflict and encroachment is more intensive. The mangrove with signboard on the right was reclaimed by the community through legal process.
This mangrove area in Baan Kuku is under threat of encroachment by private sector. With existing experience and capacity, the community is trying to check such encroachment by planting mangrove as a sign of community right and as the primary counter measure.
Report Prepared by: Poonsin Sreesangkom
Dated:
23 January 2011
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Thailand Mangroves for the Future Small Grants Facility -MFF SGF2. THA-MFFSGF-09-05/ Raising Awareness and Promoting Local Knowledge in Coastal Resource Management with People's Participation Country: Project No. / Title: Date of Visit: Location: Visitors:
Project Contact:
Thailand THA-MFFSGF-09-05/ Raising Awareness and Promoting Local Knowledge in Coastal Resource Management with People's Participation Thursday, January 20, 2011 Muang District , Phannga Province 1. Mr. Poonsin Sreesangkom, National Coordinator 2.Ms. Anongnart Chuachanart, NSC member 3.Assistant Professor Nukul Rattanadakul, NSC member 4. Dr. Piyachatr Pradubraj, NSC member 5.Ms. Suwimol Sereepaowaong, Programme Assistant Mr. Thanu Nabnian, Project Leaders, Andaman Project for Participatory Restoration of Natural Resources, the grantee
1) BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT / PURPOSE OF VISIT This MFF SGF project proposed to contribute to underpinning MFF strategy on building and encouraging the application of knowledge as well as promoting environmental governance in coastal area. Proposed activities consisted of building capacities of communities by enhancing community learning and knowledge management of mangrove and coastal resources as well as strengthening participatory coastal resources management. Awarded THB: 377,000 from MFF SGF, the activities were launched nearly to the completion of its 12-month duration. Submitting the progress report, the visit aimed to witness result of activities and interact with target community and other stakeholders. 2) FINDINGS AND OBSERVATIONS At Baan (village) Koh Khiam, one of five target communities surrounded by land forest of coconut, para-rubber, etc, on one side, and coastal ecosystems of mangrove on the other, the visiting team interacted with about 20 project leaders representing project members from other target villages. The leader comprised both man and woman. One youth member was seen attentive and active in the discussion. Four project leaders took turn to explain environment development backgrounds and progress of activities in their own location. It was found that nearly all location were rated as fairly successful, after a few years under CHARM and under this MFF intervention. Undertaken activities included setting up a volunteer group to conserve coastal resources, checking the expansion of shrimp farms, declaring seven plots of mangrove as community forests, establishing mangrove learning centres, etc. One community was awarded “ Forest Protection Flag” from Her Majesty the Queen. In the briefing, every leaders displayed capacity to use maps and charts in an orderly manner. The project had successfully involved women’s group in conservation activities. During the interaction, woman leader and member of youth group displayed some result of their work on making use of local natural resources to reduce their daily expense. While mangroves of total area more than 200 ha in one village had been recognized by the authority as community forest, the ones in other four villages were still awaiting such recognition. The project had reached out to other networks in Phuket, Phangnga and Krabi Province and would plan to cover as far as Ranong Province.
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Thailand Mangroves for the Future Small Grants Facility -MFF SGF-
Baan (village) Koh Khiam is a Muslim village between mangrove and landed forest. Looming in the background is one plot of community forest.
One of community elders who experience ecosystems degradation during the past decades related the development history of the his villages using the map and chart as shown. His village currently takes car of about 200 ha of mangrove.
Representatives of women’s group in each participating village proudly presented their product made from natural resources of their protection. Sets of photos on the wall depict undertaken activities and respective results of each project location.
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Thailand Mangroves for the Future Small Grants Facility -MFF SGF-
One woman leader and a member of youth group explain her product made from a species in mangrove. The product is used as shampoo.
Mangroves at both sides of the canal in Baan Koh Khiam are established as community forest. The conservation effort bear its fruits. Biological diversity is rehabilitated making aqua culture of community more fruitful.
Report Prepared by: Poonsin Sreesangkom
Dated:
24 January 2011
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Thailand Mangroves for the Future Small Grants Facility -MFF SGF3. THA-MFFSGF-09-06/ Mangrove for the Future Country: Project No. / Title: Date of Visit: Location: Visitors:
Project Contact:
Thailand THA-MFFSGF-09-06/ Mangrove for the Future Wednesday, January 19, 2011 Muang and Thalarng District , Phuket Province 1. Mr. Poonsin Sreesangkom, National Coordinator 2.Ms. Anongnart Chuachanart, NSC member 3.Assistant Professor Nukul Rattanadakul, NSC member 4.Ms. Suwimol Sereepaowaong, Programme Assistant Mr.Chokedee Somprom, Project Leader, Phuket Livable Community and City Action Project, the grantee
1) BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT / PURPOSE OF VISIT This MFF SGF project proposed to contribute to underpinning MFF strategy on building and encouraging the application of knowledge as well as promoting environmental governance in coastal area. Proposed activities consisted of launching capacity building for target population on community waste management, coastal resource management then putting into practice and demarcating mangrove areas for reforestation and conservation. Awarded THB:370,000 from MFF SGF, the activities were launched nearly to the completion of its 12-month duration. Submitting the progress report, the visit aimed to witness result of activities and interact with target community and other stakeholders. 2) FINDINGS AND OBSERVATIONS The visiting team met with about 10 project leaders at Kingkaew Soi 1 Community, one of the two target communities, in eastern side of Phuket Provincial Town. A semi-urban community, it comprised about 385 households of various careers ranging from providing general and professional services, small business and fishery. As a new community of diversified backgrounds, it still lacked appropriate infrastructure. Interacting with the leaders and scanning a prepared document at a premises allocated for garbage bank activities, more information about the community development history were shared. Under supports from the Community Organization Development Institute, a public organization, and the Mangrove Development Station 23 in Phuket, for one, the community had initiated a networking with over 30 other communities of similar contexts around Phuket island to rehabilitate mangrove since 2007. The initiative led to other projects such as the current Mangrove For the Future where about 48-ha mangrove was being managed out of the total 290-ha or so of current mangrove in the province, and the community saving project. Walking through and around the community, a mixed modes of livelihood activities between urban and rural were witnessed. It was estimated that about 40 % of the population still depended upon mangrove for fishery and other daily needs. Mangrove area as community forest was officially demarcated with plan for management. The second target community visited was in the northern area of Phuket, called Pu Darm (Black Crab) Community, where nine families settled next to a mangrove and depended upon its provisions for livelihood activities. The main activity witnessed in progress was a completed system for reducing excessive nutrient runoff from the households. Being trained by an ex-GEF SGP project (THA/SGP/OP4/CORE/Y1/2008/05), community members were successful in building the systems to reduce nutrient run-off into mangrove, let alone the mangrove area of about 100 ha being overseen by them. In addition, they were able to retrain other communities who heard the success of the system and paid visit to the project.
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Thailand Mangroves for the Future Small Grants Facility -MFF SGFThe visiting team had witnessed both institutionally and technically capacity of the two communities. The garbage bank was scheduled to function in February while the waste treatment facilities were completed and functioning quite satisfactorily. The team had recommended the first community to further set up co-operative or community shop to ensure community financial viability. As for the second community with no-grid connection, the visiting team recommended renewable energy as the first option.
King Kaew Soi 1 Community, a target community, is situated next to a degraded mangrove (right). Urbanization becomes one major threat to the ecosystems. An area of about 48 ha of mangrove is overseen by the community. Small canals connecting land and sea serve as fishing routes for those who depend upon fishery to make a living.
Like other semi-urban communities, life styles result in a waste like this. These bags of plastic bottles are ready to be sent to the project garbage bank in the community, instead of sending them to far-away buyers.
The garbage almost completed in construction serves as a temporary meeting place during the project site visit. The development history and undertaken activities are being disseminated on these posters.
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Thailand Mangroves for the Future Small Grants Facility -MFF SGF-
40 % of the community is small scale fishermen. They would sail along the canal through the mangrove casting their nets or laying their traps to get coastal and marine species one of which is the ‘black crabs”.
In order to stop further mangrove encroachment, official demarcation was established. The canal is used as one line between housing area and mangrove. The grown-up mangrove is said to be one result of the 3- year effort, while the young mangrove a result of the current project. One major project stakeholder, Community Organization Development Institute committed to provide a watching tower for community to oversee the mangrove.
One of the project by-product is this plot of “sea holly” (Acanthus ebracteatus Vahl), a species with medicinal quality. It was said that without the project, the plot would have been turned into a private property with housing or even shrimp farms.
At Pu Darm (black crab) community in northern portion of Phuket Island, all nine households are equipped with filter pits of various designs to suit the terrain. Waste water coming out from these systems are confirmed to be environmentally-friendly. Behind the community member is a mangrove area of about 100 ha overseen by this community. Report Prepared by: Poonsin Sreesangkom Dated: 23 January 2011 15
Thailand Mangroves for the Future Small Grants Facility -MFF SGF4. THA-MFFSGF-09-07 / Strengthening Local Livelihood and Ecological Tourism for Sustainable Environment and Coastal Resources
Country: Project No. / Title: Date of Visit: Location: Visitors:
Project Contact:
Thailand THA-MFFSGF-09-07/ Strengthening Local Livelihood and Ecological Tourism for Sustainable Environment and Coastal Resources Thursday, January 20, 2011 Muang District , Phuket Province 1. Mr. Poonsin Sreesangkom, National Coordinator 2.Ms. Anongnart Chuachanart, NSC member 3.Assistant Professor Nukul Rattanadakul, NSC member 4. Dr. Piyachatr Pradubraj, NSC member 5.Ms. Suwimol Sereepaowaong, Programme Assistant Ms. Kanyarat Kosavisutte, Chairperson,Green Fins Association, the grantee
1) BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT / PURPOSE OF VISIT This MFF SGF project proposed to contribute to underpinning MFF strategy on building and encouraging the application of knowledge as well as promoting environmental governance in coastal area. Proposed activities consisted of building capacities of communities to ensure secured local livelihoods and promoting alternative professional career to ensure secured coastal and marine environment and ecosystems. Awarded THB:377,000 from MFF SG, the activities were launched nearly to the completion of its 12-month duration. Submitting the progress report, the visit aimed to witness result of activities and interact with target community and other stakeholders. 2) FINDINGS AND OBSERVATIONS Baan (village) Bangkhonthi of Tambol Rawai, home of one target group is a coastal village situated along the southern beach of Phuket. Once a fishing village, it now finds itself amid growing urbanization with hotels, resorts and housing of upper-middle class. Majority of community earned their livings through small-scale fishing and providing services for tourism. At the office of Ao(gulf) Chalong Coastal Community Network in the village next to a big hotel, the visiting team interacted with two project leaders who were available during this high season. The leaders gave a brief on progress of activities and their results. In addition to proposed results, a youth group called “ young volunteer” was established to participate in project activities such as promoting ecotourism with accepted standard by building appropriate touring equipment and producing manuals. One interesting activity was said to be the establishment of garbage bank in communities and along the beach under a support of the municipality. Other confirmed activities were planting palm trees and mangrove in tourist spots in the gulfs. More over, the group collaborated with Phuket Mangrove Research Station to breed a species called Sea Fan to attach more tourist. Increased capacity and awareness of communities were witnessed by ability to negotiate with expanding hotel business and its financiers which resulted in participatory use of the beach area and a kind of “symbiosis”. For example, the hotel management would recommend its customers to use boat services of the network for touring the islands, keep the beach clean and be aware of waste water disposal into the sea. Notwithstanding this harmony, the network still felt threatened by land encroachment and unregulated urbanization from foreign investors – the current trends happening in all beach areas of Phuket Island.
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Thailand Mangroves for the Future Small Grants Facility -MFF SGF-
The beach in front of Baan (village) Bangkhonthi, one target location, gradually become urbanized full of modern houses and concrete blocks. Local fishermen have to make their way through small lanes to get to their fishing boats. As the frontal sea produces comparatively less marine species, in conjunction with some fishing ground declared as a protected area, local fishermen, the boats should be used for other kinds of services.
Only about 100 meters in lands are homes of local fishermen. Many of them still practice small gardening containing native edible and medicinal species.
The office of the network is situated at the beach next to a big hotel. Network members managed to negotiate with the hotel manager to be supportive of local fishermen and more environmentally-friendly. The hotel donated a plot to build this office and the centre of the network.
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Thailand Mangroves for the Future Small Grants Facility -MFF SGF-
At the office or centre of the network, fishing gears of members would be seen here and there, in addition to other diving and life saving equipments required in ecotourism process.
One of the many locally specific eco-tourist products of the project made from waste materials.
Report Prepared by: Poonsin Sreesangkom
Dated:
24 January 2011
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Thailand Mangroves for the Future Small Grants Facility -MFF SGF-
Annex III: MFF Phase I Evaluation and Lesson Learned Workshop
Country: Date of Workshop: Participation:
Location:
Thailand August 26 -28, 2010 1. Members of NCB’s Working Group 2. Representatives of 15 SGF grantees 3. Representatives of 3 LGF grantees 4. Resources persons & representatives of concerned agencies Sirinthorn International Environment Park, Cha-am District, Phetchaburi Province
1) BACKGROUND OF THE
MEETING
MFF, an initiative created through cooperation of various sectors, with aims to promote conservation of coastal ecosystems and livelihood security of coastal communities in the Indian Ocean, had seen its completion of phase I in January 2010. During the phase, the NCB had approved 15 SGFs’ and 3 LGFs’ all of which were currently operational. In order to duly plan for Phase II, the NSC in its last meeting suggested that a workshop to “look back then look ahead” be organized to evaluate these projects eliciting experience and lessons learnt for further use. 2) MEETING AT –A- GLANCE A meeting room of Sirinthorn International Environment Park had seen about 50 participants from NCB’s Working Group, representatives of 13 SGFs’ and of 3 LGFs’ gathering together to share experience, after which the chairperson of the WG gave a welcome address saying that the objectives of the meeting were two-folds, i.e. to evaluate the granted projects and to integrate experience and lessons learnt into strategy of MFF phase II and of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources. Present at the meeting, the Director-General of DMCR shared, at some length, current strategy and action plans of the department. He stated that , to protect and maintain the current country mangrove, there should be more aggressive approaches. Intensive protection and maintenance, probably one staff per one certain area, would be a good one. In order to by-pass or avoid unnecessary bureaucratic processes, committee at local level should be established. This committee with mandate to cover the area of 3-4 provinces would encourage policy dialogues and advocacy. At the end of this session, the DG submitted that the department wanted to learnt from the audiences so that the policy for the year 2012 might be appropriately initiated. The workshop process then proceeded to sharing session. The audiences were divided into five groups and each given one and a half hours. The topics of sharing included (1) characteristics of each projects-activities and locations of projects, (2) who and how participation of project was achieved, (3) successes, (4) limitation/problems/issues, (5) future plans , and (6) mechanism required to move on in the future. At the end of the session, each group gave a presentation telling outputs of the sharing . Questions/answers/comments that followed were quite substantial. That was the first day. Morning session of the second day started with presentations from two remaining groups and summarization of the brainstorming session, followed by 15-minute highlight on the modality of SGF by the national coordinator, in which an implementation flowchart beginning from proposal development stage to approval stage to grantee reporting stage to monitoring visit until project completion.
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Thailand Mangroves for the Future Small Grants Facility -MFF SGF-
The first session of the afternoon saw a resources person from Thailand Environment Institute sharing experience on working approaches with communities. Before launching any development approach, one should learn and understand about community livelihoods and culture. Project leaders, in particular, should understand political context of communities so that local benefits and management of natural resources would be maximized. The session that followed highlighted a participatory process where the audiences were divided in to five groups. Given relevant questions/issues, such as promoting community participation and access to knowledge, local knowledge and mangrove management, local political contexts, etc, group members were to discuss to come up with solution. That was the second day. The first session of the third day began with a presentation from an expert from DMCR sharing previous research works carried out on mangrove across the coastal area of Thailand. The possibility of integration of action plans was also confirmed. At wrap-up session, the following keywords were put forward for confirmation to ensure integration of plans: -
Promotion of R & D type of projects Scaling up local policy to reach national policy Capacity-building for local leaders, environment governance and participation from local administrative organization Participation with ASEAN, migrant work forces, threats on natural resources Community waste management Community preparedness for natural disaster Protection of local natural resources: endemic species Conflict resolution: government vs. community, community vs. community Access and participation of marginalized groups such as women and foreigners Harmonization of local operational mechanism, budget and timeframe “Returning homelands� of youth and new generation Reduction of emission rate of CO2 and scaling up of local economies Management of special protected areas Incentives to ensure local participation in management of natural resources and the environment, such as Bio Right Local capitalist influence vs. decision to launch policy Environment Justice, civil right and local politics Welfare, morale and incentives for field workers Etc.
Before declaring the workshop close, the chairperson of the Working Group shared his experience as an expert of DMCR, working from the South China Sea in the recent years and now in the Indian Ocean. Finally, he confirmed to make use of the suggestions, data and information the workshop had elicited in order to draft the strategy for phase II in an integrated manner.
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Thailand Mangroves for the Future Small Grants Facility -MFF SGF-
The Director-General of DMCR is sharing policy and action plans of the department and attending to some questions and comments from the audiences. The sharing atmosphere appeared very friendly and mutually encouraging.
One of the five groups is eliciting essences of the sharing then putting on flip charts for sharing with and soliciting thoughts & ideas from the audiences.
The presentation of sharing result of a group was very detailed but “simple and natural�.
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Thailand Mangroves for the Future Small Grants Facility -MFF SGF-
Question & answer session substantial and interesting.
appeared
With friendly atmosphere where local communities from various coastal provinces are able to meet each other and with relevant government officers.
Workshop participants include representatives of MFF SGF and MFF LGF as well as representatives from relevant government agencies.
Report prepared by: Poonsin Sreesangkom
Date: 7 September 2010
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