Conserving wetlands on the Andaman coast
phu villages. Its aim initially was to assist the victims of the tsunami and rehabilitate dam- aged mangrove areas. Since then, the net- work has operated continuously to conserve mangroves and other coastal resources with support from public and private organisations such as UNDP, IUCN, Farmers Federation Association for Development, Raks Thai Foundation, World Vision, Save the Anda- man Network, and the Thai government’s Mangrove Development Station 9.
Target beneficiaries The main beneficiaries were 120 of the 829 households in the three core villages of the Kapoe Mangrove Rehabilitation Network.
Conserving wetlands, Andaman coast, Thailand © S. Sereepaowong Thailand © S. Andaman coast, Conserving wetlands, Outputs Nine hectares of rehabilitated mangrove Objectives area added to the 256-hectare commu- This project aimed to ensure the sustainable nity protected area by planting N. fruti- use of mangroves, maintain biodiversity, and cans to provide raw material for income- generate supplementary income for local generating activities. 6.1Ú people, especially from the use of the palm Nypa fruticans. Its specific objectives were: Capacity built among community mem- THAILAND bers and youth groups through active to demonstrate how mangrove forest participation in conservation activities. rehabilitation supports community liveli- hoods; Conservation awareness of at least 60% of the targeted population enhanced LOCATION to provide communities with knowledge through active and more frequent assem- Koh Yai Rang mangrove area, and information on managing mangroves, bly for community activities. Kapoe, Ranong, Thailand and raise community awareness of natu- PRIORITY POWS ral resources conservation; and Adoption of community regulations for • Reef to Ridge the use of community forests. • Sustainable Livelihoods • Integrated Coastal Planning to enhance community participation in managing collective mangrove areas Conservation of juvenile crabs and juve- DURATION and protecting them against pollution and niles of other aquatic species in an area May 2009 to November 2010 encroachment. of about one hectare. MFF GRANT AMOUNT US$9,737 Background Accomplishments and KENYA The Mangrove Rehabilitation Network of challenges Kapoe sub-district in Ranong province was Participants demonstrated their enhanced established in 2005, after the 2004 Indian capacity for rehabilitation through boundary Ocean tsunami, by community leaders from demarcation, nursery construction, replant- Ban Chi Mi, Ban Darn and Ban Banglam- ing and weeding.
TANZANIA INDIAN OCEAN SEYCHELLES One community adopted an innovative project demarcated two areas as a black approach to controlling an aggressive climb- crab bank and a mangrove nursery for dem- ing weed known as fish bladder (Canscora onstration and learning. pentanthera). Fish bladder grows well in the open sun and can smother newly planted Challenges mangroves. Villagers discovered, however, Crab-eating macaque monkeys (Macaca that planting Nypa palm can check weed fascicularis) uprooted newly planted Nypa growth and so reduce the time and labour palms, and crabs also damaged the palm needed for weeding. The palm is also a good seedlings, making frequent replanting nec- source of supplementary income. essary. One effective community learning mech- anism was a raft in Kapoe Canal. Moored Andaman coast project stakeholder, Thailand Partners and their contribution © S. Sereepaowong among the mangroves, the raft is used as The participating communities made cash a floating exhibition for youth conservation and in-kind contributions worth US$3,150 activities. Behind the raft, on a mudflat, the and US$4,845 respectively. “The project changed people’s attitudes and CONTACT INFORMATION Mr Wiroj Dejsongpraek outlook, encouraging Project Coordinator them to be more open Kapoe Mangrove Rehabilitation Network 6/3 Moo 8, Kapoe, and listen more closely to Ranong 85120, Thailand communal concerns.”
Tel: +66 81 0891822 — MR WIROJ DEJSONGPRAEK PROJECT COORDINATOR
www mangrovesforthefuture.org Produced by MFF with the financial support of Norad and Sida