With its length along the coast of 156 km., and area of 11,802 ha, the mangrove area of Suratthani covers the locations of 6 districts in the province. However, only 35 % of this was promulgated as a national reserved forest. ( The promulgation was in the year 1964 ).

Due to inadequate measure and lack of proper planning, all of the mangrove area had been used and degraded remaining the area of only about 3,160 ha in acceptable condition. The major causes of degradation can be summarized as follows:

1.Inappropriate public sector activities in and granted private sector uses of the forest land such as aqua-culture, salt farming , agricultural practice , coastal construction and irrigation
2.Inefficient coastal management of government , lacking participatory approach
3.Equivocal coastal resources management policy and legal measure

The effect of these activities have been witnessed in changing quality of water, intrusion of salinity and sedimentation , all of which subsequently affect the marine ecosystems in the area.


Project goals or objectives (including GEF problem-area addressed by projects):

1.To build capacity of target population on sustainable management of coastal resources
2.To solicit coordination from both public and private sector to promote community-based organizations? role in guarding against harmful activities to the environment and natural resources
3.To create a good model for appropriate utilization of natural resources , with proper technicality based on local tradition and indigenous knowledge

Activities to be carried out under project:

1.Convening workshops, conducting study tours for the 5 target villages
2.Formulating plans for volunteer guarding groups , establishing Mangrove Forest Education Centre, compiling data & information on mangrove forest ecosystems and coastal natural resources and organizing open forum at provincial level to influence government policy formulation
3.Demarcating community mangrove forest and coastal area , reforesting mangrove in 50 ha of 4 areas , releasing fish species in 1 area , and organizing youth camp on the management of coastal resources and mangrove forest

Project participants and/or beneficiaries:

1.Government Agencies at provincial level;
-Provincial Forestry Office
-Provincial Forestry Office
-Provincial Community Development Office
-Suratthani Provincial Office
-Suratthani Provincial Council
2.Tambol Phumriang Municipal Office
3.Five neighbouring community-based organizations

Anticipated results of project:

1.Destructive fishing in 130 families is abolished. There emerge supplementary occupation from community saving fund in 100 families and 5 community-based groups to manage coastal resources.
2.There emerge 3 Youth Groups for Environment Protection