<
https://news.mongabay.com/2024/10/thailands-budding-mangrove-restoration-plans-spark-both-hope-and-concern/>
"BANGKOK, Thailand — Standing on a coastal boardwalk overlooking the upper Gulf
of Thailand, Wisut Leksomboon points to two mature mangrove trees whose
branches intertwine like lovers’ limbs.
“We found that by planting two seedlings close together, they can offer each
other support as they grow. These trees are about 30 years old,” Wisut tells
Mongabay during a visit to the Mangrove Nature School in Bang Kaew, a village
roughly two hours’ drive south of Bangkok in Samut Songkhram province. As a
founder of the eco-school and a local leader, Wisut has worked for more than
three decades to preserve a 6.4-hectare (15.8-acre) patch of mangrove forest
next to his village.
Mudskippers and iridescent fiddler crabs flit between the tangled roots of the
pair of 7.5-meter (25-foot) mangrove trees as the tide laps relentlessly
beneath the raised walkway — a reminder that this section of coastline is
rapidly eroding. Thailand’s Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR)
estimates that some parts of the Gulf of Thailand lose up to 5 m (16 ft) of
land to sea level rise per year.
The erosion is a pressing issue in Bang Kaew, where 80% of residents rely on
inshore fishing, salt panning, and aquaculture — livelihoods jeopardized by
coastal land loss. Concerned about their future, Wisut and local activists
initiated a mangrove conservation project in 2008 that culminated in the
construction of 5 kilometers (3 miles) of bamboo fencing along the coastline to
ease the impact of waves and trap mud, creating a more suitable environment for
mangroves to regenerate naturally.
Their efforts are paying off. Not only has valuable coastal land been protected
from storm surges, but wildlife is recovering. The mangrove visitor center next
to the boardwalk showcases the vibrant wildlife that now thrives in the area:
otters, kingfishers, crab-eating macaques, Irrawaddy dolphins, and all manner
of shellfish and invertebrates."
Via
Fix the News:
https://fixthenews.com/276-regenerative-city/
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
