Environmental Conservation in Thailand

Environmental Conservation Volunteering in Thailand

The coral reefs and mangrove swamps on the coast of Thailand are stunning places and they're doing well. They are threatened though. Threatened by fishing, by tourism, by shrimp farms and by climate change. But for now you can still dive and explore them in all their splendor.

Mangroves and coral reefs are part of the same eco-system. Many of the creatures essential to the coral reef start their life-cycles in mangrove swamps. Projects Abroad works in both parts, doing important scientific work on the coral reefs and planting new mangroves - and minimizing human impact on both environments.

One of the biggest changes in Thailand over the last two decades has been the start of mass tourism. It has turned its flora, fauna and natural landscapes into commodities. In some ways this is great because it has made poor fishermen prosperous and the whole poor economy relatively rich. Yet there is always a conflict. Tourists need feeding, so fishermen work twice as hard and their nets get caught and left on the coral reefs. Projects Abroad is cleaning the coral reefs before they get damaged. We are also planting mangrove forests across the devastation left behind by abandoned shrimp farms. We are playing an important part in looking after the colorful world of the coral reef and the fragile world of the mangrove swamp, and not just protecting them but also studying them and researching them, which is important for protecting them in the long term.

Projects Abroad is working closely with Phuket Marine Biological Center and the Krabi Fisheries Department on a variety of conservation work. You can be part of the protection plan for Thai coral reefs by volunteering on the Projects Abroad Diving and Marine Conservation Project that operates in this beautiful region. Projects Abroad also supported the International Year of the Reef during 2008.

Volunteer Evironmental Conservation in Thailand

Join our Conservation & Environment project in Ao Nang and the first thing that you’ll be doing is learning how to scuba dive. We will train you up to the level of Advanced Scuba Diver, helping you to learn the fundamental theoretical and practical aspects of diving in the beautifully clear warm waters of the Andaman Sea. This allows you to dive to depths of 30m and participate fully in the underwater conservation work. If you have advanced scuba diving qualification already, you can start on the underwater reef research work straight away and choose to gain the next qualification as a Rescue Diver.

Learn to Scuba Dive We work in partnership with Kontiki Dive Center which employs fully qualified instructors and dive masters. Kontiki are a 5* PADI dive center and have been operating in Thailand since 1989.

By observing and analyzing reef damage and fish populations, you'll be helping to find the best ways to protect marine life from the dangers of increased tourism and human negligence. The diving is some of the best in the world and you'll have the chance to observe a wide variety of marine life – including turtles, rays, harmless reef sharks and hundreds of species of multicolored tropical fish.

We are collecting information on the development, deterioration and overall condition of coral reefs and fish populations in the area. This information forms part of a wider database which will be used across the world by experts in this field.

The popularity of diving in the region has lead to the creation of artificial reefs. The reef we are monitoring started as three large blocks of concrete dropped into the sea in April 2006. Corals, plants and animals will soon attach themselves to the concrete and fish will be attracted to the area remarkably quickly. We are collecting data regarding this process and studying how quickly the area undergoes these changes.

 

Collecting glass bottles in the mangroves

Unfortunately, the water around the reefs contains large volumes of litter discarded from fishing and diving boats and our volunteers collect waste materials on salvage dives and dispose of it correctly once back on land.

In addition to our coral reef monitoring and salvage recovery work, our conservation program also involves some very important land-based activities that are vital to conserving the coastal ecosystems of the region.

We undertake beach clean-ups, often in conjunction with local schools, to ensure that these areas – some of the most beautiful beaches in the world – remain pristine.

We also replant mangrove forests. Mangrove forests are among the most productive and bio-diverse wetlands on earth, yet these unique coastal forests are among the most threatened habitats. They may be disappearing more quickly than inland tropical rainforests and, so far, with little public notice. Healthy mangrove forests are key to a healthy marine ecology. Help is needed to monitor the mangrove forests in Krabi province to prevent further destruction and assist with reforestation projects in this beautiful yet fragile area of Thailand.

Environmental Conservation Volunteer Work in Thailand

A work schedule is established each week so you know what is happening and when. The schedule varies, depending on the time of year, the weather and the number of volunteers on the project.

Mangrove reforestation work Volunteers normally work five days a week, so you will have two days off to relax, travel or get involved in some of the many other activities the area offers. Your days off may not always be together or on the weekends.

You'll live in the Projects Abroad guest house sharing a room with up to three other conservation volunteers. Each room has its own private bathroom. The rooms are cleaned regularly and the house has electricity and hot running water.

Meals are provided in the communal ground floor area of the house with a buffet style lunch and dinner. On days when you are out diving or working at the mangrove site for example, lunch will be provided on the boat, at the work site, or a packed lunch may be taken.

The volunteer house is located about five minutes drive from the center and main beach in Ao Nang. We provide transport to take volunteers to-and-from work sites. To get into the town center in your free time it is easy to get the bus which stops right outside the house or hire a tuk-tuk. Getting home is also cheap and easy by tuk-tuk.

Diving in Thailand This project is available for two weeks if you don't have time to join us for a month or more. This project has been selected by our local colleagues as being suitable for short term volunteering for both the host community and the volunteer. Although you will gain a valuable cultural insight and take part in a variety of the conservation activities please be aware that you may not be able to make the same impact as someone volunteering for a longer period. Volunteers joining the Conservation Project for two weeks should arrive in Krabi during a weekend and will receive one dive course. It is important to remember that the amount of diving available over a two week period can be affected by bad weather.

Volunteers joining the Conservation Project for two weeks should arrive in Krabi on a Friday or Saturday of the first or third weekend of the month. As a two week volunteer, you will receive one dive course and your role in some of the diving activities after completing the course may be limited to observation and assisting the longerterm volunteers. It is important to remember that the amount of diving available over a two week period can be affected by bad weather. Two week applications also need to be made at least a month before the start date in order for our staff in Thailand to plan the schedule effectively.

“The Projects Abroad staff here has been working for years in conjunction with Thailand Marine National Parks, and has a superb understanding of the local ecosystem. This means the volunteers quickly understand the needs of the area and can make an active difference, which for me has been very satisfying. In addition, the spectacular marine life here has made diving a bit of an addiction!”Liam Farncombe – Conservation Volunteer in Thailand