Chumphon Community Outreach Awareness Program Proposal:

Celebration for the 2002 clam release

1. Education is the first step in the goal to attain community involvement in the park.  We will create brochures and literature to distribute to locals and community schools that introduce the marine national park and discuss the importance of marine conservation and community involvement.  The goal is to build a stronger local conservation ethos, which will be mutually beneficial for both the marine environment and the local economy.  The goal is to create an opportunity for our goals to be theirs as well.  We will do this by sharing facts on the benefits of conservation such as:    In the last 30 years, 60% of Thailand's mangroves have been lost due to community destriction, aquaculture, and coastal construction.  Mangroves need to be preserved because 75% of all juvenile fin fish need mangrove regions for protection during their development stages.    Over fishing and dredging of the ocean bottom (push net fishing) ruins the marine habitats of benthic species.  Use of modern tackle and equipment can prevent this from occuring, and the Thai government will provide this equipment when traded for old tackle. 2. Coastal Pursuits believes that the future of the environment lies primarily in the hands of the youth who will be there to see it, and those who learn more about the environment will have a better understanding of how to help preserve it. We will organize and fund the opportunity for park rangers and volunteers to visit local grade schools to discuss the importance of conservation efforts including mooring buoys and safe fishing techniques.  We would also like to fund class trips to visit the park in order for students to discuss issues relating to the marine environment and conservation. 3. Help preserve Chumphon's coral and marine ecology.  We would like to begin by educating the local fishermen about hte benefits of using mooring buoys instead of anchors.  We will then encourage community locals to participate in the installation of the buoys along the Chumphon coastline.  In order to do this we will need to first instruct park rangers and volunteer locals to scuba dive in order to help position the mooring lines underwater. 4. Make the park a more desirable place to visit for community children and adults alike.  We will organize a volunteer group to help clean up and rejuvenate the park's aquarium, which was abandoned due to a lack of funding.  It is our hope to proved a small petting pool, descriptive labeling, pamphlets, better lighting, and a few marine resource books for interest. 5. To initiate and develop the basis of local understanding so that this program and community interest will continue without the reliance of Coastal Pursuits in the future.  By organizing and aiding the development of this outreach program in its beginning stages, it is our goal to develop a shared interest among community members and the marine park.  Doing this will self-support awareness outreach to the locals who should equally be part of the efforts made to conserve their local natural resources. 6. Purchase equipment to help the park service its projects and resource center.  Having already purchased dive gear, underwater cameras, and surveying tools in the past, we would like to purchase more equipment and educational material for the use of the park staff, and community members. Click here to learn more about how you can help

Contact Us General Info e-mail: info@coastalpursuits.com Scott Stevens, Director e-mail: scott@coastalpursuits.com Yvette Jong, Program Coordinator e-mail: yvette@coastalpursuits.com Last Updated: August 1st, 2002

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