WI-MFF Progress Report (5th)

Progress Report

August - December 2010

Reversing Environmental Damage through Community Focused Sustainable Livelihoods

in Ban Don Bay, Surat Thani Province, Southern Thailand

Wetlands International-Thailand Office (WI-TO) Ban Don Bay Conservation Network (BDCN)

Partners Mangrove Resources Development Station 13 and 14,

Surat Thani Provincial Fisheries Office

Foreword and Acknowledgment Wetlands International (WI) – Thailand office presents this interim report, for the period October to

December 2010, on the progress and outcomes of its project on integrated environmental management for the restoration of community livelihoods in the Ban Don Bay area of Surat Thani province.

WI wishes to thank the governor of Surat Thani province, the director of the Regional Mangrove Management Office no. 4, the chief of the Mangrove Management Unit no. 13 (Thachang), the chief of the Mangrove Management Unit no. 14 (Donsak), the provincial Natural Resources and the Environment Office, the Ban Don Bay Conservation Network, and the many communities in the Ban Don Bay area that steadily supported this project.

The Project Management Team Surat Thani, December 2010

Contents Page

Project Fundamentals……………………………………………………………………….................................. 1

Executive Summary………………………………………………………………………..................................... 2

Part 1 : Project Background………………………………………………………………………........................ 3

Part 2 : Implemented Activities

1. Building capacity for mangrove restoration……………………………………………………………………….. 5

2. Quality of life and livelihoods development (Bio-rights) …………………………………………………… 6

3. Coastal Resource Management Collaboration Development………………………………………………… 7

4. Campaigning and publication activities………………………………………………………………………........ 8

5. Other activities………………………………………………………………………......................................... 11

Part 3 : Supporting Livelihoods of Local Populations

1. Introduction………………………………………………………………………................................................ 13

2. The Bio-Rights Concept and Procedure………………………………………………………………………....... 13

3. Development and Adaptation of the Bio-Rights Concept in Ban Don Bay, Surat Thani Province 14

4. Monitoring and Evaluation………………………………………………………………………............................ 20

5. Lessons Learned from Project Implementation…………………………………………………………………….. 21

Reversing Environmental Damage through Community Focused Sustainable Livelihoods in Ban Don Bay, Surat Thani Province, Southern Thailand

5th Progress Report 1

Project Fundamentals Key particular

a. Project contract number: 87005-065-MFF360

b. Project title Reversing Environmental Damage through Community Focused Sustainable Livelihoods in Ban Don Bay, Surat Thani Province, Southern Thailand

c. Location: Surat Thani, Southern Thailand

d. Duration: 24 months

e. Project costs: US$ 426,793.00,

f. Funding: MFF-US$ 300,000

Co-funding US$ 126,793

g. Project contractor: Wetlands International-Thailand Office

h. Implementing bodies - Wetlands International-Thailand Office

- Ban Don Bay Conservation Network

i. Collaborating partners: - Surat Thani Provincial Fisheries Office

- Mangrove Resource Development Center

- Surat Thani Provincial Natural Resources and Environment

Address and contact persons: Project coordination Office: Room E205, Faculty of Environmental Management Prince of Songkla University Hat Yai Campus, Hat Yai district Songkhla 90112, Thailand Tel/Fax: +66 74 429307

Project Implementation Office: 180/3 Moo 1, Pathumporn Road Makham Tia sub-district, Muang district, Surat Thani Province Contact person: Mr. Jirapong jeewarongkakul Tel/Fax: +66 77 922124 E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]



Executive Summary Wetlands International, with the Ban Don Bay Conservation Network, the Regional Mangrove

Management Unit no. 4, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), and the Surat Thani Fisheries Office, have worked together on the “integrated environmental management project for the restoration of community livelihoods in the Ban Don Bay area, Surat Thani province”, which was supported by the Mangroves for the Future (MFF) program. The objectives of the project were to support and improve the quality of life in fishing communities, together with the conservation and restoration of coastal environments in the Ban Don Bay area.In the period from October to December 2010, the project proceeded with planned activities as follows:

Activity 1: Restoration and management of mangroves in 7 districts around Ban Don Bay in Surat Thani province.Training on “Mangrove Inventory” was held for community representatives and members of the Ban Don Bay Conservation Network (BDBCN), in cooperation with the Regional Mangrove Management Unit no. 4, and the Centre for Extension Learning and Mangrove Resource Development no. 3. The training used the “Training of Trainer” (TOT) procedures, which encourages participants to impart their newly acquired knowledge to others when they return to their communities. Such training not only increases knowledge about mangrove inventory, but also promotes an exchange of the traditional knowledge of local communities and the expert knowledge of forestry officials.

Activity 2: Development and innovation of a bio-rights financial mechanism for mangrove management and restoration, together with community livelihoods development and resource conservation. The committee of the integrated environmental management project for sustainable community livelihoods in Ban Don Bay met on 10 June 2010 and approved 6 small-grant projects with a total cost of 910,000 baht. Memorandums of understanding were then agreed among the various parties for the transfer of 85% of the funds to the various communities so that they could proceed with their small grant projects.

Activity 3: Support cooperation among various organizations, such as governments, educational institutions, NGOs, and communities, for the management of coastal resource and mangroves around Ban Don Bay. Meetings were held monthly with members of the BDCN and various local government administrations. Representatives of local fishing communities had an opportunity to exchange views, consult about their problems, and work together to solve them.

Activity 4: Improve local knowledge and capability to manage mangroves, and build an understanding of the value and importance of conservation and sustainable environmental management.

The project promoted increased public understanding and knowledge about coastal resource management through an exhibit, newsletter, web sites and various social networks. Cooperation and information sharing to find solutions to problems was promoted through the following activities:

• Joining the Community Forestry Training Center for Asia and the Pacific and the Southern Community Forest Network to hold a meeting on 20-21 September 2010 in Leeled, Phunphin district, Surat Thani, to consider the situation of community forests in southern Thailand.

• Joining the national reform committee task force on land management, environment resources and water to promote solutions to problems of coastal resource management, especially those involving social conflict and justice issues. The task force chose Ban Don Bay as a case study area.

• Joining local community organizations and NGOs in Surat Thani and Trang to coordinate work with local administrative authorities to more effectively obtain the project’s goals.



Part 1 : Project Background

1.1 Introduction The integrated management of this environment and livelihoods project for the sustainability of the Ban

Don Bay community, Surat Thani originated from the collaboration of Wetland International - Thailand Office (WI-TO), Ban Don Bay Conservation Network (BDCN), the Office of Mangrove Resource Development (Stations 13 and 14), and the Surat Thani provincial Fisheries office. The donor and initiator is the ‘Mangroves for the Future’ (MFF) program, part of the IUCN.

1.2 Project Objectives 1. To conserve and manage the mangroves and other coastal ecosystems in several sub-districts around Ban Don Bay, Surat Thani province

2. To develop and utilize a financially innovative mechanism which encourages local communities to manage and restore mangroves and other ecosystems, while at the same time improving the livelihoods of the communities which are located within these natural resources

3. To promote the collaboration of state agencies, educational institutions, private organizations and local communities in mangrove management and natural resource management

4. At both local and national level, establish greater capacity and knowledge of mangrove management as well as build awareness of the values and importance of conservation and the benefits from a sustainable ecological system.

1.3 The Working Process 1. Development of strategic restoration plans to restore mangroves and training for staff, workers and the project participants

2. Development of livelihoods which suit mangrove- depended communities by evaluating livelihood requirements; establishment of local networks in order to continually help livelihood development; a collective study concerning livelihood building and establishment of livelihood groups which will be granted financial support

3. Supporting the collaboration and networking of local communities and Involving organizations in sustainable natural resource management by establishing a multi-stakeholder association in order to jointly manage the mangroves, and to strengthen and build capacity of this association

4. Building awareness at local, national, and international levels to support coastal resource management and this project in particular

1.4 Targeted Areas Fishing communities surrounding Ban Don Bay in seven districts; Tachana, Chaiya, Tachang, Phunpin,

Muang Surat Thani, Karnchanadit and Don Sak. Surat Thani Province, Southern Thailand.



1.5 Project Activities, May-July 2010 1.) The project’s first component was training participants about mangrove restoration, which was separated into two levels:

(a) Training for technical experts by providing in-depth, scientific knowledge of mangrove restoration techniques which would be suitable for their current situation; and

(b) Training for communities who will make use of the knowledge during practical mangrove restoration in their own areas

2.) The project’s second component was livelihood- support which included meetings of the network-level committees and the project’s provincial-level advisory committee to approve projects that will be granted financial support for livelihood building and conservation activities.

3.) The project’s third component was all-stakeholder meetings concerning natural resource planning and management in Ban Don Bay.

4.) The project’s fourth, ongoing component is to build knowledge and awareness of the need for natural resource conservation, as well as publicize the project and its activities. This includes newsletters, constantly updating the project website, exhibitions and so on, in order to provide knowledge to all sectors.

1.6 Project Activities, August-December 2010 1.) Building capacity for mangrove restoration

1.1 Mangrove inventory training (no. 2)

1.2 Training Outcome: mangrove inventory

2.) Quality of life and livelihoods development (Bio-rights)

3.) Coastal Resource Management Collaboration Development

3.1 Ban Don Bay Conservation Network Meeting

3.2 Meeting between the Ban Don Bay Conservation Network and the Department of Fisheries, Surat Thani Office.

4.) Campaigning and publication activities

4.1 Developing more posters for exhibition

4.2 Ban Don Bay Conservation Network newsletter volume 2

4.3 Website Development

4.4 Coordination among local partners in Surat Thani province

4.5 Policy advocacy for Ao Ban Don – finding solutions to problems.

4.6 Developing a Community Forest Network with partners in Southern Thailand

5. Other activities

5.1 Community based natural resource management in partnership with local administrative government offices in Ban Don Bay in Surat Thani, and in Trang province.

5.2 Exhibition of project activities

5.3 A field visit by Mangrove Action Project (MAP)

1.7 Project Dates From May 2009 to May 2011



Part 2 : Implemented Activities

1. Building capacity for mangrove restoration 1.1 Mangrove inventory training (no. 2)

Wetlands International (WI), Surat Thani Office, organized a training course on “Mangrove Inventory” for community members in the Ban Don Bay Conservation Network, as part of a livelihoods development project inspired by the bio-rights concept. The objective of the course was to train key villagers on the principles and techniques of mangrove inventory and restoration monitoring, so that they could take that knowledge back to their own communities. Thirty-six community members attended the training. It was organized in collaboration with the Regional Mangrove Management Office no. 4, the Centre for Mangrove Extension Learning and Development no. 3, the Mangrove Management Unit 13 and 14, the Ban Don Bay Conservation Network (BDCN), and the Social and Environmental Health Project. The training was funded by the Health Fund, Thai Health Promotion Foundation.

The training course was conducted over 2 days between 23-24 August 2010 at Grand Saowaluk Hotel. The training was led by Mr. Krisda Sithinoon, head of the Centre for Mangrove Extension Learning and Development no. 3, and guest lecturer from the Regional Mangrove Management Office no. 4. There were 2 main sessions concerning the general concept and importance of mangrove forest inventory and field work. The participants had some field experience with such techniques in their work at the Regional Mangrove Management Office no. 4.

As an outcome of the training, participants built their capacity and gained knowledge and skill on the techniques of mangrove inventory and monitoring. In addition, there was an exchange of traditional local knowledge and professional technical expertise during the session. A good relationship developed between community members and mangrove government officers. Thus, it was possibly to develop further collaboration between the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) and local communities in applying both local and professional methods for future use by communities.

1.2 Training Outcome: mangrove inventory

After the training, villagers who attended took back new knowledge, including applied techniques for surveying mangroves and collecting data that they could share with other members of their communities. That knowledge can be used to acquire base-line data for future work on mangrove restoration.

Figure 1 : Mangrove inventory training Figure 2 : Training Outcome: mangrove inventory



2. Quality of life and livelihoods development (Bio-rights) At the Second meeting of the advisory committee of the Reversing Environmental Damage through

Community Focused Sustainable Livelihoods in Ban Don, Surat Thani Province on 10 June 2010, funding for small grants was considered for community livelihoods development as bio-rights projects. Six grants were approved which covered 7 districts located around the Ban Don Bay area. Total funding was 910,000 baht. Subsequently, the committee gave the funded communities implementation guidelines as follows:

Table 1 Worked for quality of life and livelihoods development

Date Steps of implementation

23 September 2010 Develop a memorandum of understanding (MOU) including the group receiving the support, the community, WI and BDCN

30 September 2010 Transfer 85% of the total funds to the community grantees of the 6 approved projects

12 November 2010 Field visit to monitor the fish cage cultivation project implemented by the Klong Phumriang Mangrove Conservation Group, Phumriang sub-district, Chaiya District.

6 November 2010 Field visit to monitor the project for the promotion of traditional fishing gear, Ta Khian Thong Sub-District, Kanchanadis District, implemented by Tambon Ta Khian Thong Mangrove Conservation Network

8 November 2010 Field visit to monitor the project for fish cultivation in cages and ponds of the Klong Shanak Natural Resource Conservation Group, Klong Chanak Subdistrict, Moo 3 and 8

12 December 2010 Ban Don Bay Conservation Network (BDCN) meeting to monitor progress in the work of the 6 funded projects

Figure 3-4 : Field visit to monitor the project for the promotion of traditional fishing gear, Ta Khian Thong Sub-District, Kanchanadis District, implemented by Tambon Ta Khian Thong Mangrove Conservation Network



3. Coastal Resource Management Collaboration Development 3.1 Ban Don Bay Conservation Network Meeting

Encouraging community networking was an important strategy for building participatory mangrove and coastal resource management capacity in the Ban Don Bay area. Working together as a network with efficient management helped to empower local communities to negotiate and find better ways to solve their problems. The Ban Don Bay fishing communities represented 7 districts that have been working together on coastal resource conservation and management for at least 7 years. The BDCN has been conducting network meetings among communities on the 17th of the every month. The meetings have allowed community members to share and discuss their problems and find solutions concerning coastal resource management. The meetings were also an opportunity to monitor the situation and make progress working together, not only among the communities, but also with local partners, both private and governmental.

3.2 Meeting between the Ban Don Bay Conservation Network and the Department of Fisheries, Surat Thani Office.

In 2010 fiscal year, BDCN received funding for capacity building from the Surat Thani provincial development budget through the Department of Fisheries (DOF), Surat Thani Office. The total budget was 4,800,000 baht to implement the following activities:

1.) Implementing a 3,000 meter protected zone and area of intensive conservation area.

2.) Establishing a network for women and youth.

3.) Training (1 session) for volunteer patrols.

4.) Leadership training for women and youth.

5.) Establishing a community learning center.

6.) Supporting alternative livelihood development.

7.) Setting up a youth conservation camp.

8.) Setting up a leadership camp for women.

The funding helped BDCN and WI-Surat Thani project to implement activities more effectively. On 18 October 2010, BDCN and WI conducted a meeting together with DOF, Surat Thani Office, to discuss and share their activities and budget plans. At the meeting, WI discussed ways to collaborate and integrate activities which had similar goals, especially with regard to the proposed 3 kilometer fisheries conservation zone. For that project, WI had a plan and budget to work only in Leeled, but DOF took responsibility for the area from the Leeled District shoreline to Tha Chang and Klong Chanak Districts. Activities in that project included zoning, meeting with local communities and authorizing project implementation together with DOF.

Figure 5 : Ban Don Bay Conservation Network Meeting Figure 6 : Meeting between the Ban Don Bay Conservation Network and the Department of Fisheries, Surat Thani Office.



4. Campaigning and publication activities 4.1 Developing more posters for exhibition

Seven vinyl posters have been developed to exhibit and publicize project activities when opportunities arise.

4.2 Ban Don Bay Conservation Network newsletter volume 2

The objectives of publishing the newsletter were 1) to promote WI’s project activities, 2) to share and update

information about situations and problems concerning the unjust management of Ban Don Bay, Surat Thani, and 3) to advance public relations and policy advocacy on coastal resources management issues at the local and regional levels. Examples of topics covered in the newsletter were: impacts of inshore encroachment by cockle farms established by outside investors, impacts of destructive fishing gear (push net and drag net), and impacts of water pollution from shrimp farms.

WI has produced “Rak Ao Ban Don” quarterly newsletter. The newsletters contained information on the environmental and natural resource conservation situation in Ban Don Bay area, and was used to promote public relations and project activities. The newsletters were sent to WI partners and circulated at meetings and training workshops. Electronic versions of the newsletter have been emailed to WI’s mailing list of partners and can be downloaded from the WI-Thailand website at http://www.withailand.org/MFF. Two editions of the newsletter have been distributed. The content were relating to issues as follows:

Table 2 : Ban Don Bay Conservation Newsletter volume2

Section News item/ story

1. Editorial A short welcome from the editor

2. Network news Problems and impacts on fisher folks in Ban Don Bay, Surat Thani

3. Articles Critical problems and impacts of the seafood bank project on fisher communities in Ban Don Bay

1. BDCN committee’s meeting on small grant projects

2. Meeting of WI’s project committee

3. Training of trainers on mangrove restoration capacity building

4. BDCN’s monthly meeting

4. Project news and events

5. Exhibition on the importance of natural resource conservation in Ban Don Bay and project’s activity updates

Note: download http://www.withailand.org/MFF

Figure 7 : Ban Don Bay Conservation

Network newsletter volume 2



4.3 Website Development

In response to the world wide trend toward social networking, WI has developed a website (http://www.withailand.org/MFF and http://thailand.wetlands.org), which is available in Thai and English. It publicizes WI’s project activities and shares information about coastal resource conservation and management in Ban Don Bay. WI has applied Search Engine Optimization (SEO) methods to improve the visibility of its website and web pages to global searches by Google. WI has also created Facebook and Twitter sites for updating and sharing its work. Those sites received 411 visits on average per month. The visitors were from Thailand 47%, USA 14% and unknown countries 32%.

Figure 8 : Statistics Web site

4.5 Coordination among local partners in Surat Thani province

On 15 December 2010, WI organized a meeting with community and NGO partners in Surat Thani province, including the Community Organization Development Institute (CODI), the local youth network, the Surat Thani Civil Society group, the Southern Thailand Farmer’s Federation and the Forest and Sea for Life Foundation. The meeting aimed to discuss strategies and solutions for environmental problems and natural resource conservation and management issues in Surat Thani province. Several big projects have been proposed under the national plan and policies for the southern sea board, which include the Tapi-Phum Duang diversion dam, industrial estates, a nuclear power plant for electrical generation, and a provincial water management plan. Those plans lack feasibility studies, and there is concern that such large projects will have major impacts on communities and eco-systems in the watershed area. The meeting encouraged civil society organizations in Surat Thani province to work together and share information with local communities on possible impacts from those projects. The need for participation by local people was also highlighted.

4.6 Policy advocacy for Ao Ban Don – finding solutions to problems.

The Prime Minister officially announced on 5 July 2010 the establishment of the National Reform Committee. The committee has five missions as follows: 1) to develop strategies, approaches, guidelines and working processes for national reform, 2) to propose means of implementing national reform of government and the public sector, 3) to coordinate a National Reform Assembly to gather information, feedback and suggestions concerning national reform, 4) to work closely with the National Reform Assembly to support and monitor the effectiveness of reform, 5) to set up a task force to take action on particular issues.

As a result, the National Reform Committee has formed a task force on the land title management system, and issues of environmental and natural resource management. The task force is to enquire into conflicts and concerns of injustice around the use of land, forest, mineral, freshwater and marine resources. WI has participated and presented the Ban Don Bay case study at the following meetings:

- On 25 November 2010, WI participated in the meeting on “Solutions for Social Environmental Health” at the Prince Palace Hotel, Surat Thani which was organized by the health assembly. At the meeting, solutions were recommended for problems concerning the management of marine and coastal resources in Surat Thani.



- On 3 December 2010, WI attended the national reform task force committee meeting on “The current situation of the land title management system, environmental and natural resource management” at Pisanulok Government House, Bangkok.

WI presented a case study on the Ban Don Bay coastal management conflict. Inshore encroachment for aquaculture farming has occurred due to the promotion of the seafood bank project under the previous government’s asset capitalisation policy (2004-2007). From the DOF database, in 2009, there were 80,139.91 rai of seashell cultivation in the districts of Donsak, Kanchanadit, Muang, Tha Chang and Chaiya districts. That area included 777 farms covering only 26,932.67 rai that had received official approval from DOF, and 1,083 illegal operations on 53,207 rai. Interestingly, just three of the illegal operations occupied 28,114.02 rai. Records do not indicate how many cases there were of big investors selling authorization to others, and how much area is actually controlled by local fisher folk.

During one of the BDCN meetings, information was presented on the significant impacts of cockle farms on local fishing communities. Farm owners have used bamboo stakes to demarcate cultivated areas where local fisher folk can not fish. Local fishermen have been threatened by farm owners, and the area that local people can fish has decreased. Subsequently, fishermen have gone further to fish, which has increased costs and risks during poor weather while traveling in small boats.

In addition, cockles are harvested from the sediment using a harrow, which spreads turbidity that negatively affects the marine eco-system. New mangrove planting in Ban Don Bay area have been affected, and the impacts of harrows on inshore natural resources are comparable to those of push nets. Attempts have been made to solve those problems, but have been unsuccessful because cockle investors have a lot of influence and have not been concerned about environmental impacts.

Recently, the national reform task force committee has selected Ban Don Bay to be one of four case studies on coastal resource management conflict. WI project staff have been appointed as members of a working group to gather information and make proposals to the national reform committee.

Figure 9 : WI attended the national reform task force committee meeting on “The current situation of the land title management system, environmental and natural resource management” at Pisanulok Government House, Bangkok.

Figure 10 : WI participated in the meeting on “Solutions for Social Environmental Health” at the Prince Palace Hotel, Surat Thani which was organized by the health assembly. At the meeting, solutions were recommended for problems concerning the management of marine and coastal resources in Surat Thani.



4.7 Developing a Community Forest Network with partners in Southern Thailand

WI, in partnership with the Southern Community Forest Network and the Regional Community Forestry Training Center for Asia and the Pacific (RECOFTC), organized a meeting of the community forest network in southern Thailand between 20 - 21 September 2010 at Leeled village, Phunphin District, Surat Thani province. The objectives of the meeting, which had 40 participants, were to 1) exchange information about the community forest situation in the southern area, 2) review the current approach to community forests and propose next steps, and 3) update and follow up with the national community forest assembly.

The meeting was very useful for BDCN because community members gained new ideas that could be applied to their community mangrove forests. The remaining areas are covered by government resolutions regarding mangrove forests that would make it possible for them to be managed and regulated by local committees as community forests.

5. Other activities 5.1 Community based natural resource management in partnership with local administrative government offices in Ban Don Bay in Surat Thani, and in Trang province.

On 7 November 2010, WI met with the Social and Environmental Health Promotion Project to collaborate on activities to build the capacity of local communities to manage natural resources. The activities were funded by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation. The main objectives were to integrated conservation activities and plans for community capacity building by working with local administrative offices in Ban Don Bay. The activities are listed in the table below:

Table 3 : Activities to build the capacity of local communities to manage natural resources plan.

Activity Budget (baht)

1. Developing learning toolkits for 3 target districts and the Ban Don Bay community area

100,000

2. Collecting data on bio-diversity in the mangrove forest around Ban Don Bay, and publishing a bio-diversity booklet for the community

50,000

3. Collecting data on fisher folks and small-scale fishing boats in the Ban Don Bay area

50,000

4. Developing a natural resource map in WI’s target project areas and in the network area covered 7 districts

105,000

Total budget 305,000

5.2 Exhibition of project activities

WI attended the international workshop on “Wetlands Ecosystem Services: Biodiversity, Livelihoods and Sustainability” and exhibited the current project activities in Ban Don Bay, Surat Thani province, between 17 - 21 November 2010 at the Charoen Phon Hotel, Khon Kaen province. The workshop was organized by the Environmental Science Department, Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University. The participants, from Thailand and abroad, exchanged experiences on sustainable wetlands management at both the local and international level. Participation was funded by the Mangrove for the Future (MFF) program.



Figure 11-12 : WI attended the international workshop on “Wetlands Ecosystem Services: Biodiversity, Livelihoods and Sustainability” and exhibited the current project activities in Ban Don Bay, Surat Thani province,

5.3 A field visit by Mangrove Action Project (MAP)

On 9-10 December 2010, WI hosted a visit to the project field sites by a team from MAP, led by Mr. Alfredo Quarto, MAP-Executive Director, and Mr. Jim Enright, MAP-Asia Coordinator. The group visited mangrove restoration sites in Donsak, Kanchanadit and Phunphin Districts, and had discussions with representatives of those communities, and shared their experiences. The visit encouraged the work on mangrove restoration by local communities and project staff. MAP has been promoting Ecological Mangrove Restoration (EMR), which is a useful approach that could be applied to the project.

Figure 13-14 : Mangrove Action Project (MAP) group visited mangrove restoration sites in Takien Thong

Kanchanadit Districts.



Part 3 : Supporting Livelihoods of Local Populations

1. Introduction Wetlands International – Thailand Office, in collaboration with the Ban Don Bay Conservation Network

(BDBCN), the Division of Mangrove Administration 4 (Suratthani), and the Surat Thani Provincial Fisheries Office, has implemented a project called “Reversing Environmental Damage through Community Focused Sustainable Livelihoods in Ban Don, Surat Thani Province”. The project was supported financially by the Mangroves for the Future (MFF) program, and focuses on supporting the livelihoods of the Ban Don Bay fishing communities, as well as providing for conservation of coastal marine natural resources.

To support livelihoods in the targeted communities, the concept of bio-rights was adopted. It is an innovative financial mechanism designed for livelihoods promotion in parallel with conservation efforts in local communities. The innovation was developed by Wetlands International and firstly adopted in Indonesia. Thailand is the second country that has applied it, and has adapted the idea to fit its needs, activities, and capacity in the participating communities. The project “Reversing Environmental Damage through Community Focused Sustainable Livelihoods in Ban Don Bay, Surat Thani” will play an important role in determining how the bio-rights concept can be adjusted to maximize its benefits for mangrove ecosystem conservation and livelihoods development. Through a community-based participatory approach, the activities under the concept were adapted to fit the communities’ needs and will therefore have a higher potential for success in promoting conservation and the sustainability of livelihoods.

2. The Bio-Rights Concept and Procedure The project has conducted activities under a work plan to support livelihoods by adapting the concept of “Bio-Rights”, which is a financial mechanism combining support for both conservation and livelihoods. Wetlands International has been developing the bio-rights concept for more than 10 years, with the primary objective of restoring mangrove and swamp areas in Indonesia, as well as protecting waterbirds in Mali. Since then, many Wetlands International projects have embraced the idea, such as the Green Coast Project, the Wetlands and Poverty Reduction Program, and other conservation projects.

2.1 Concept

• The bio-rights concept is based on the local communities’ right to their own natural resources.

• Bio-rights is a financial mechanism integrating livelihoods with conservation.

2.2 Procedure

The bio-rights concept is similar to a business interaction, where buyers gain benefits from an ecosystem and the suppliers are local communities. There are 3 steps in the procedure which are:

• A local community is provided with micro-credits for financial development, i.e. a community spends the loan on supporting their ongoing activities, or promoting new environmental friendly supplementary livelihoods.

• The community’s payment of interest can be returned in the form of conservation activities, such as forest restoration and protection, or halting unsustainable activities in forest areas.

• Should those conservation activities be successful and sustainable, the micro-credits are converted into a revolving fund for the community.



Figure 15 : Bio-rights process

3. Development and Adaptation of the Bio-Rights Concept in Ban Don Bay,

Surat Thani Province Over the past 10 years, the coastal resources of Ban Don Bay have been intensely degraded, especially through the loss of mangrove area and water pollution, which was caused by the expansion of shrimp aquaculture that currently covers up to 25,000 rai. The result has been degradation of the coastal ecosystem and depletion of marine animals, which has reduced the quality of life and economy of fishing communities in Ban Don Bay. At the same time, the drop in shrimp prices, and shrimp diseases during 2001-2002, led to insolvency for many aquaculture families. In light of those circumstances, the project has focused both on restoring the ecosystem and supporting livelihoods of local communities. A close collaboration with the Ban Don Bay Conservation Network (BDCN) has facilitated the process under the bio-rights concept, which provided support for livelihoods projects proposed by several communities.

The “Bio-Rights” program to support livelihoods in Ban Don Bay, Surat Thani Province, is slightly different from those “Bio-rights” projects implemented in Indonesia, Malaysia, Costa Rica, and Mali because of differences in the social, cultural, and economic contexts of the area. Project staff, BDCN and local communities agreed in a meeting that the micro-credits for supporting livelihoods should be turned into “revolving funds”. A group or community receiving a micro-credit has to clear the loan at the end of the contracting period to keep the funding sustainable. BDCN can rotate the funds to promote livelihoods in other communities, under the same stipulation that there be environmental conservation in those communities. For example, conservation, restoration and surveillance can be considered an activity that covers the interest payment on the loan.

Each step of the strategy to implement the program to support livelihoods stressed capacity building in communities through participation of its members. Local academics met to determine if the proposed projects and conditions in the communities would yield solutions alleviating income poverty, as well as human poverty, by building capacity and learning processes. Examples of human poverty are the lack of opportunity to access fundamental resources, the lack of power to fairly negotiate over natural resources management, the lack of recognition for local knowledge etc.



3.1 Small Projects Consideration

3.1.1 A meeting was held on 7 May, 2009 to introduce the project to all participants, who came from different sectors of society, and included representatives from various communities in Surat Thani. They were asked to share their opinions and suggestions in order to determine the most appropriate and effective course of action for restoring mangroves.

3.1.2 A framework was developed for work plans at each stage of the project. A draft was ready to proceed to the third step by July, 2009.

3.1.3 A workshop was arranged for the participating agencies to improve the framework, agree upon collaboration, and discuss the establishment of the Provincial- level Advisory Committee (PAC) that would help determine the appropriate course for conservation activities in Surat Thani, and facilitate the project’s activities.

3.1.4 Sites were visited in different communities in Ban Don Bay to explain and create an understanding of the bio-rights concept and the use of micro-credits, and to provide guidelines for small project proposals. That process occurred in September 2008, and it took 2 weeks to visit different villages to clarify the concept.

3.1.5 A Provincial-level Advisory Committee (PAC) was established by submitting the official appointment request on 26 October, which was approved on 26 November, 2009, by Mr. Damri Boonjing, Governor of Surat Thani.

3.1.6 A meeting was held on 28 October 2009 at Siam Thani Hotel for representatives from communities in the Ban Don Bay network to discuss the adaptation of the bio-rights concept to the needs and capacities of their communities. At that meeting rules and regulation for receiving and repaying micro-credits were discussed. A network-level committee was named that would consider the appropriateness of proposed projects that were selected by the local-level committees from the communities. The names of community representatives on the local-level committees that considered the small grant proposals were presented on 7 November, 2009.

3.1.7 Meetings of the local-level committees, consisting of 9 well-respected local experts, considered small grants for projects to build livelihoods under the bio-rights concept. That was the beginning of the approval process for small grants, which considered if they were appropriate and applicable to the local environment. There were 25 proposals submitted in the first round, and then the network-level committee selected at least one proposal or more from each district for the project development stage. That process took place from 7 - 16 March 2010.

3.1.8 There were 8 proposals, selected for the project development process, that the network-level committee tailored to be more applicable and have a greater chance of success. Thereafter, those projects were submitted to the provincial-level committee for approval.

3.1.9 After improving the project proposals, they were presented to the provincial-level committee for the second time on 10 June 2010. Mr. Jirawat Singhdee, Surat Thani Deputy Governor, presided over the committee, which approved the projects and advised some adjustments. The proposing communities had to revise their projects according to the committee’s suggestions to be qualified for a contract and the awarding of micro-credits. Grants were made to 6 projects from 6 districts for a total 1,470,000 Baht, of which 910,000 Baht was for livelihoods development and 560,000 Baht was for mangrove restoration.

3.3 Small Grant Projects

In the second meeting on 10 June 2010, the advisory committee of the project “Reversing Environmental Damage through Community Focused Sustainable Livelihoods in Ban Don Bay, Surat Thani Province” approved 6 small grants for bio-rights projects as follow:

1. Marine life conservation and restoration of coastal resources in Tha Chana District, Surat Thani, by the Khanthulee Marine and Coastal Resource Conservation Group.

2. Fish culture in cages for conservation and mangrove surveillance in Chaiya District, Surat Thani, by the Phumrieng Mangrove Conservation Group.

3. Coastal aquaculture in Phunphin District, Surat Thani, by the Leeled Natural Resource Conservation Group.

4. Fish culture in earth ponds and cages in Muang District, Surat Thani, by the Natural Resource Conservation Group, Moo 3 and 8, Klong Chanak.

5. Support for making fishing gear for local fishing communities in Kanjanadit District, Surat Thani Province, by the Takhien Thong Mangrove Conservation Group.

6. Producing smoked seafood in Donsak District, Surat Thani Province, by the Ban Don Bay Natural Resource Conservation Group.



All six proposals that were supported by the “Reversing Environmental Damage through Community Focused Sustainable Livelihoods in Ban Don Bay” Project had to manage livelihoods development and conservation projects according to an agreement. Details of the approved bio-rights projects are described in table 4

Livelihood activities Preparation of livelihood activities Mangrove restoration area

Figure 16 : Project’s activities area.

3.4 Progress of the Small Grant Projects (November – December, 2010)

After the projects received the first disbursement of 85% of the total funds, project staff visited 3 project sites that had started their works; which were 1) the fish cage culture project for conservation and mangrove surveillance in Phumrieng Subdistrict, Chaiya District, 2) the fish culture project in earth ponds and cages in Klong Chanak Subdisdistrict, Muang District, and 3) the project to support the making of fishing gear for local fishing communities in Takhien Thong Subdistrict, Kanjanadit District. The other three projects were still in preparation owing to major floods during October – November 2010, and were waiting for better weather conditions.

3.4.1 Fish Culture in Cages for Conservation and Mangrove Surveillance in Phumrieng Subdistrict, Chaiya District

Starting in November 2010, the group built 6 fish cages and bought 3,000 white snapper fries. However, a major flood during 28 October – 3 November caused the deaths of 403 fry, leaving 2,597. Some group members reported in interviews that the surviving fry have adapted well, and the loses would be bearable, and they did not expect to face a deficit. Then, the size of the fish was 17 centimeters, and 183 and 139 kilograms of feed were given in October and November, respectively.



3.4.2 Fish Culture in Earth Ponds and Cages in Klong Chanak Subdisdistrict, Muang District

The project started in October with conditioning of the ponds, after which three fish cages and 2,000, 5-inch tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were bought for release in the ponds.

3.4.3 Support for Making Fishing Gear for Local Fishing Communities in Takhien Thong Subdistrict, Kanjanadit District

After receiving the micro-credit, the eight group members agreed to distribute the fund among themselves equally, averaging 9,000 Baht per member. Each member was able to select their own kind of gear, but they bought the materials collectively to get cheaper prices. Payments were made through a savings fund, and the members agreed to save up 300 Baht/month or 10 Baht/day to return the savings to BDCN.


Table 4 : Small Grant Projects

Main Activities Project title Quality of Life improvement and

livelihoods development Mangrove conservation and

restoration

Budget (Baht) Project Implementer

1. Aquatic animal and coastal resources conservation - Cockle Cultivation in abandoned

shrimp ponds - Green Mussel cultivation

- Mangrove forest restoration in 64 rai,

- Restoration and conservation areas demarcation

- Community mangrove forest regulation development

175,000 Coastal Resource Conservation Group There are 34 members and 15 committees

2. Fish cultivation and mangrove conservation

- Conducting fish cultivation in cages. - Organizing a monthly meeting

among members to exchange experiences of fish cultivation

- Planting mangrove in 50 rai for erosion protection and coastal resource conservation

- Public relations with other community members and youth members

- Patrolling mangrove forest by community volunteers

127,400

Members had also contributed 100 baht per person

Klong Phumrieng Mangrove Conservation There are 24 members and 13 committees

3. Aquatic animal cultivation

Fresh water fish (tilapia) cultivation in abandoned shrimp ponds

- Planting mangrove in 50 rai for erosion protection and coastal resource conservation


192,600 Leeled Community Environmental and Natural Resource Conservation group There are 15 committee

4. Fish cultivation in small natural ponds and cages

Fresh water fish (tilapia) cultivation - Planting mangrove in 50 rai for erosion protection and coastal resource conservation

- Encouraging participation and public relations with other members and youth members and provincial administrative offices

- Patrolling mangrove forest by community volunteers

200,000 Moo 3 and Moo 8 of Klong Chanak Environmental and Natural Resource Conservation Group There are 3 projects committees

5. Small-scale fishing gear production

- Making fish traps and nets - Organizing a study tour to visit other

fishing communities to learn about making small-scale fishing gear

- Planting mangrove in 50 rai in abandoned shrimp ponds


85,000 Ta Khian Thong Mangrove Conservation Group There are project 8 members


Main Activities Project title Quality of Life improvement and

livelihoods development Mangrove conservation and

restoration

Budget (Baht) Project Implementer

6. Smoked seafood production

- Organizing a training on group management

- Organizing a study tour to learn experience from other communities

- Purchasing tools and equipment for seafood production

- Planting mangrove on National Mother’s day (Queen’s Birthday)

- Preparing 12,800 mangrove seedlings

- Developing a monitoring system, including setting up 10 community volunteers to monitor and restore mangrove, and then report to the community 2 times a year for 3 years

130,000 Ban Don Bay Natural Resource Conservation Group There are 26 members and 3 committees for smoked seafood related activities, and 3 committees for mangrove restoration



4. Monitoring and Evaluation Monitoring and evaluation of the small grant or bio-rights projects were considered significant in helping the projects achieve their expected outcomes. However, the project has realized that the notion of “success” or “failure” of the small projects differed among the communities. For example, a project might succeed in generating income, but fail to create collaboration within a community, and vice versa. Nevertheless, both success and failure have a major role in the learning process for the communities and the projects.

A “participatory approach to monitoring and evaluation” was used at the project-level, network-level, and local-level in order to assess successes and failures from many aspects. At the same time, the monitoring and evaluation process is still primarily concerned with the goals set out as the specific objectives of the projects.

4.1 Monitoring and Evaluation by Groups or Communities of their small scale projects

4.1.1 Determining and weighing indicators of success through the collaboration of members: Group members discussed how to determine indicators of success from their perspectives, such as increases in household income, and good relationships and collaboration among the group members. As well, the project members considered the priority that should be given to those factors.

4.1.2 Exchanging experiences through monitoring and evaluation: When each group has determined their own indicators, the group then selects one member to evaluate and give marks to other projects.

4.1.3 Sharing information and learning: Sharing information and experiences among different small grant projects stimulates the learning process.

4.2 Monitoring by the Ban Dan Bay Conservation Network

The Ban Dan Bay Conservation Network (BDCN) was the organization responsible for supervising and managing the projects’ payments and revolving funds to other communities. It selected 3 members from the network to monitor, examine, and evaluate the small grant projects to assure that the expenditure of each group was in accordance with the project’s objectives and agreements.

4.3 Monitoring by Project Staff

4.3.1 Monitoring workshop: A monitoring workshop was held for the small grant projects once every two months to monitor each project’s progress, and offer opportunities to share experiences among members of each group.

4.3.2 Site visits: Project staff could visit the sites of small grant projects to discuss, when necessary, any management issues encountered, or pay visits to monitor important events.



5. Lessons Learned from Project Implementation 5.1 Bio-rights Adaptation

Wetland International (WI) has adopted a bio-rights approach from WI’s projects in other countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Costa Rica and Mali, for use in its project in Surat Thani. After working (for 1 ½ year) with communities in the Ban Don Bay Conservation Network, WI-Thailand learned that it needed to adjust the bio-rights approach to fit with the local context. Aspects of the social, economic and cultural context of Ban Don Bay considered most significant were as follow:

Poverty level: The income level of people in WI’s project area in Surat Thani was higher than the levels in those countries where the bio-rights process has been previously used.

Poverty Definition: Bio-rights have been developed as a means for alleviating income poverty. However, bio-rights in the context of natural resource management should be concerned with more than just income poverty, but should also consider human poverty with a non-monetary dimension. For example, local people’s rights to access natural resources for basic needs, and their ability to participate locally and nationally in resource management, should also be of primary concern in poverty reduction. Low status and lack of education can lead to exclusion from natural resource management processes.

5.2 Environmental and Financial Sustainability

The bio-rights mechanism (figure 15) is initiated with the loan of funds from donors to communities. The funded communities undertake activities to improve their quality of life or develop alternative livelihoods, but must also implement conservation activities in return for the loan. When the conservation project is successfully completed, they do not return the loan. However, if the conservation initiative is not completed, the villagers are required to pay the capital investment money back to the donor.

WI has adjusted the Bio-rights process for use in the communities of Ban Don Bay as part their project to improve quality of life and livelihoods. An agreement was reached with the communities that donated funds would become a revolving fund. In return for the donation, there were to be conservation activities, such as mangrove restoration, or shoreline protection. However, the completion of those conservation projects did not affect an obligation to return the funds. The communities were required to payback the total loan to a revolving fund within the time, and under the conditions, agreed.

In cases where profits were gained from livelihood activities, funded group members have committed to share some money among members, or to put it into a community conservation fund.

Figure 18 : Bio-right concept at Ban Don Bay, Surat Thani Province.



5.3 Bio-rights and human poverty: Rights to access natural resources

WI has adapted the bio-rights concept in its projects by incorporating different aspects of poverty alleviation including income and human development. WI has been facilitating activities in communities as follows:

5.3.1 Forming livelihood groups in fishing communities: The bio-rights concept has encouraged local people to work together as a group to improve their quality of life and livelihoods. It has also helped members to learn by sharing experiences, discussing, planning and solving problems together. Working together can be the first step to forming networks and empowering local people to manage natural resources.

Figure 18 : BDCN network model

5.3.2 Building the capacity of communities to manage mangroves and coastal eco-systems: WI has organized training on mangrove ecology and inventory for communities receiving small grants. Monthly meetings of BDCN have also been supported and facilitated, and the hosting of those meetings has been rotated among the various communities.

5.3.3 Encouraging people’s participation: Local people through the project committees have increased opportunities to discuss their problems, cooperate, and seek help and support from provincial offices. Working as a group, they increase their opportunities to apply for small grants to work in the area of natural resource conservation and management, as well as livelihoods development. The active communities that are members of BDCN can also motivate other communities to join the network in the future.

5.4 Bio-rights Motivation

After the bio-rights concept had been introduced to communities, there was increased interest in joining the projects, motivated by the following factors:

5.4.1 The project’s bio-rights loan has low interest compared to loans from the bank or informal private sources. The interest the community pays is in the form of a conservation or natural resource restoration project which directly benefits local people.

5.4.2 The regulations are flexible and the loans can be repaid in the form of various kinds of conservation activities. For example, villagers in Leeled sub-district commonly use nypa palm products for making cigarette papers, fishing gear and roof thatch, and so opted to use their funds to restore nypa palm



forest. In Tha Chana District, the fund was used to restore mangrove in a degraded area that might otherwise have been taken over by outsider private investors.

5.4.3 Funding for the bio-rights projects helped motivate BDCN to encourage other communities to join the network. Strengthening BDCN confirmed local empowerment for coastal resource management.

5.4.4 Support for livelihoods development was an incentive for people to participate in conservation and community development activities, and a motivation to attend meetings and training workshops.

5.4.5 Community members with improved income security could give more time to conservation activities. They were more confident and had improved relations with others in the community, who also felt encouraged to become similarly involved in conservation activities.

WI-MFF Progress Report (5th)

Documents

Transcript of WI-MFF Progress Report (5th)