GVI Marine and Coastal Conservation Program THAL0346E

Training Manual Phang Nga, Thailand

Version 161.1

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CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION

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1.1. Conservation in Thailand 1.2. Introduction to Ban Nam Khem

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2. PROJECT DETAILS

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2.1. Partnerships 2.2. Project goals 2.3. A day in the life

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3. PRE DEPARTURE & BACKGROUND

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3.1. General Skills 3.2. Extra Reading

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4. PROJECT SUMMARY 5. LIFE ON BASE 6. INTRODUCTION TO THAI LANGUAGE

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1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Conservation in Thailand Thailand is currently facing some immediate and urgent environmental issues. A problem of water, air and soil quality aside, Thailand is experiencing an alarming rate of biodiversity loss. Poaching, pet trade, deforestation and habitat degradation as well as unmonitored, and insufficiently regulated tourism all threaten Thailand’s diverse and magnificent wildlife, in both terrestrial and marine environments. While the Thai government is constantly updating and improving environmental legislation and practices, the federally based, top-down approach is not always able to make a substantial difference on the ground. Charities, community groups and NGO’s still have a very important role to play in achieving conservation outcomes in Thailand. GVI has been and will continue to contribute to developing environmental sustainability in this region. As well as education and awareness, research and scientific understanding is a critical step to promoting conservation. The Thai National Park system is, in many ways, a last line of defense to stem the large-scale loss of biodiversity. GVI Phang Nga has identified and confirmed a need for research in the Thai Department of National Parks (DNP) to assist in effective management of these vital areas. This has recently become a major focus of the Marine & Coastal Conservation Program offered here in Phang Nga. Education and community awareness are also a strong part of GVI’s objectives and focus shifts between education and research depending on the season. The project consists of a mix of fieldwork, education and providing general support to other local conservation initiatives with whatever may be needed. Your program activities will depend not only on the weather but also on our partner’s needs. GVI Thailand attempts to tackle conservation in a number of different ways so be prepared for a diverse program schedule.

1.2 Introduction to Ban Nam Khem Ban Nam Khem (meaning ‘Place of Salty Water’) became the epicentre of a tin mining boom in the 1950s. The population grew from a few families to approximately 5000 people at its height. However, when all the tin was eventually extracted from the surrounding mines, the mining bubble burst, so that all remains of the industry today are lakes dotted around the village, marking where mines were dug out yet never filled back in. Thailand, like many countries in South East Asia, suffered greatly in the wake of the Indian Ocean Tsunami on 26th December 2004, suffering a loss of around 5,390 lives. As detailed above, Phang Nga (the province in which Ban Nam Khem is located) was the hardest hit province in the country, with Ban Nam Khem being one of the worst affected areas. Most people earn a living from fishing. This reliance on the sea is a reason why the 2004 tsunami had such a detrimental effect on the village. Many villagers lost a household member/relative and the loss of property and as a result, suffered mental health trauma. It was estimated that around one third of households lost family members, with approximately each household losing two people; this resulted in the decimation of Ban Nam Khem’s population, with around half its inhabitants (2500-5000 people) losing their lives.1

Paphavasit. N, Chotiyaputta. C & Siriboon. S, Pre-and post-tsunami coastal planning and land-use policies and issues in Thailand, 2006, pp.213http://www.fao.org/forestry/131450d2a4be335309affe5edb2179217efbab.pdf 1

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A reason why it is hard to put an exact figure on lives lost is because a large proportion of Nam Khem’s population are Burmese migrants, some residing legally, but many do not. Therefore, there is no definitive record of Nam Khem’s population, both past and present. The actual number of lives lost is expected to be significantly higher than official records show. Following the 2004 tsunami, many charities and aid agencies came to the assistance of Ban Nam Khem, yet many left after the initial recovery stage in order to focus on other pressing international aid emergencies. However, the need for community re-development and regeneration is still high in the village, and this is why GVI’s presence is so important. After the collapse of Ban Nam Khem’s local industry post-tsunami, it was essential for the village to find new sources of income generation. The nearby tourist hub of Kao Lak fulfilled this need, for tourism proved an incredibly resilient industry, especially in the South of Thailand. The GVI Phang Nga hub was initiated in September 2013 with the aim of supporting the continued redevelopment of Ban Nam Khem and increase access to employment opportunities through capacity building initiatives. The local community’s efforts to diversify employment markets remains central to its wellbeing, as local industry remains relatively undeveloped with an overriding dependence on traditional fishing, supplemented by seasonal small scale arable farming and livestock keeping. Ban Nam Khem boasts its own primary school with an enrolment of around 250 children and a Community Development Centre which offers free education during the day for around 150 Burmese children who live in the village, and free after school classes open to everyone in the evening. Ban Nam Khem is well located to take advantage of the tourism boom in the area, but the population needs a good level of conversational English to enable them access to the corresponding employment opportunities. This is why GVI chose Ban Nam Khem as its current base of operation within the province of Phang Nga.

Figure 1: A large fishing boat that was dumped several hundred metres inland by the 2004 tsunami. This boat was left where it landed and is now a memorial.

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2. PROJECT DETAILS 2.1 Partnerships Our work here in Phang Nga is in conjunction with several organisations. GVI is currently partnered with the Thailand Department of National Parks. We are currently working on several research projects in coastal environments, as well as capacity building activities with park staff. We are also partnered with two turtle research/catch-and-release facilities. GVI volunteers assist the Phang Nga Coastal Fisheries Research & Development Centre (CFRDC) and the Phang Nga Royal Thai Navy Sea Turtle Conservation Centre with animal husbandry, environmental enrichment and maintenance. Both of these organisations aim to increase the wild population of Green, Hawksbill and Olive Ridley sea turtles off the coast of Thailand. The conservation project also works with the Community Development Centre (CDC), a local school for Burmese immigrants, providing regular environmental education classes. This allows volunteers a chance to teach kids about the natural world and how to conserve it. These are some examples of our key partnerships, though GVI also works with other conservation groups as well. All prospective volunteers should note that the weather in Thailand is highly variable from season to season. As such our activities differ according to the time of year. The nature of the project work is subject to change according to the weather and sea conditions as well as the needs of our partners.

Figure 3: A baby green sea turtle at the CFRDC (left) and some volunteers treating the turtles for fungal infections at the Navy Base (right).

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2.2 Project Goals All of GVI’s programs work towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. UN Sustainable Development Goals are seventeen international development goals that were established in September 2015 to end poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and tackle climate change by 2030. They were built on the Millennium Development Goals, adopted in 2000, aimed at an array of issues that included slashing poverty, hunger, disease, gender inequality, and access to water and sanitation. Although enormous progress has been made, there is still room for more. All United Nations member states and many other international organizations are committed to helping achieve the following Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

On the Marine & Coastal Conservation Project, we support the following goals: 4. Quality Education 13. Climate Action 14. Life below Water 15. Life on Land 17. Partnerships for the Goals We have designed 9 long-term goals that support the achievement of these objectives. The means by which these are achieved vary throughout the year but the overall objectives remain the same. 1) To develop research projects that will contribute to the efficacy and impact of relevant Government organisations: This may be achieved by performing biodiversity surveys in Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park. Through these studies we aim to increase the DNP’s knowledge base and help inform their management decisions. 2) To assist in the local sea turtle conservation efforts by aiding monitoring, rearing, capture and release programs: We assist with the turtle breeding, capture & release program at the Navy Base & the Phang Nga Coastal Fisheries Research and Development Centre. These projects are understaffed and are glad to have our help with basic maintenance tasks.

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3) To restore disturbed coastal habitats to a healthy state through the use of cleanups and revegetation: Beach cleans are regular additions to the conservation schedule. The DNP has welcomed GVI’s assistance in keeping Thai Mueang beach clean. In the past GVI has also assisted in Mangrove planting programs with the DMCR. This work has been inconsistent however there is potential for growth in this area. It is important to contribute to conservation in a direct and measurable way. 4) To educate local children and adults on the importance of conservation in both marine and terrestrial environments: Environmental education is an important part of conservation worldwide. Classes are provided once a fortnight at the local school to inform children of environmental issues. 5) To provide volunteers with an exciting, safe, informative and satisfying experience: This objective originates from the overall goals of GVI as a company and our responsibility to provide fun, safe and educational experiences to our customers. 6) To develop and maintain meaningful relationships with all members of the local community: Once again this objective relates to GVI’s mission statement in ensuring that the reputation of GVI in Thailand is one of professionalism, diplomacy and respect. The local community is our most important partnership and this must not only be maintained but also actively enhanced. 7) To use a balanced, three tiered approach to achieve conservation outcomes: This is an overarching objective to consolidate the previous six and ensure that GVI is contributing to environmental sustainability through a) Research & scientific understanding, b) Environmental education and c) Building the capacity of local people/organisations to operate sustainably. 8) To provide volunteers and interns with the opportunity to develop both personal and professional skills within the field of conservation with scope for future involvement in the sector 9) To run a successful National Scholarship program with ASEAN nationals fully participating in Conservation program.

Figure 4: Chong Fah Waterfall and Khao Lak Trail are regular sites for biodiversity research.

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2.3 A day in the life To give some perspective on what’s expected of our volunteers we have provided a sample timetable for one week on the conservation project. Please note that this is not your timetable, but merely an example to indicate the type and amount of work you will be required to undertake. Note that this timetable does not contain any ‘field trips’. The conservation team is regularly required to stay away from base for 2 -3 days at a time, during which accommodation and amenities can differ significantly from those described in the Life on base section. Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

7am-12pm Assist with Turtle husbandry at Navy Base 12pm-2pm Lunch 2pm-4pm Biodiversity survey training

7:30am-12pm Assist with Turtle husbandry at CFRDC 12pm-2pm Lunch

7:30am-12pm Khao Lak Trail biodiversity survey 12pm-2pm Lunch in Khao Lak 2pm-4pm Pick seaweed at Nanothong beach 4pm-5pm Data entry 7:30pm Debrief

8:30am-12pm English lesson at National Park Headquarters 12pm-1pm Lunch

8am-11am Group project

7:30pm Debrief

2pm-5pm Lesson planning and species identification 7:30pm Debrief

1pm-2pm Environmental education at CDC 2pm-3pm CDC sports activities 7:30pm Debrief

Sat

Sun

12pm-2pm Lunch 2pm-4pm Deep clean FREE TIME 6:30pm Debrief

3.PRE-DEPARTURE & BACKGROUND 3.1 General skills There are several skills that you need to learn or brush up on before starting your project. A comprehensive training package is provided on arrival, however there are a few things you can do to be ahead of the game. •

Fitness – The program has high physical demands. Days are often long and tiring with much of the work we do being physical in nature. Make sure you are reasonably physically fit before coming on the expedition.

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Computer skills – The majority of project work will require use of a computer at some stage. Familiarise yourself with the basics before arriving to save yourself frustration while you’re here. You may be asked to create Microsoft word documents and PowerPoint presentations containing proper formatting, pictures, hyperlinks etc. You will also be using Microsoft Excel extensively. Please familiarize yourself with the basics of database management and simple formula use in Excel.

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Animals -Know your animals! Simple taxonomy is very useful out here for fieldwork, research and in education. You do not have to know the Latin names of every species in Thailand, but you should take a look at understand some broad categories. For example what is the difference between a genus and a species? Or a family and an order? What defines a subspecies? Etc. 8

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Observational skills – Surveys require a sharp eye and a keen ear. Practice your observation skills now and save yourself a lot of frustration in the field. Practice with the wildlife around you. Many volunteers are surprised when they go into a rainforest and they don’t see anything, meanwhile experienced volunteers, staff members and guides are spotting birds, bugs and lizards left right and centre!

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Public speaking – Teaching is public speaking. You will be required to stand and deliver lessons to people of all ages. A good teacher should have a clear confident voice, good posture, a friendly face and engaging body language. These skills are rarely ‘God-given’ talents and need to be honed and refined.

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Research skills – You will be asked to trawl a vast, vast Internet to attain a small piece of specific knowledge. Google and Wikipedia are your friends. You photographed these insects in a survey today.A supervising staff member tells you that the animal is in the order Hemiptera but the family and genus are unknown. Your staffmember later asks you to use the Internet to find out what family and genus the animal belongs to. Can you find out?

3.2 Extra reading As well as the aforementioned skills, there is some extra background reading that can be done to ensure you have a good understanding of the projects you will be involved in. Fieldwork is seasonally variable, though we often perform biodiversity surveys in local patches of rainforest. Much of the tropical biodiversity is understudied. Many of the animals encountered in the rainforest are invertebrates. To assist you in the field we have provided some light reading to introduce invertebrate types and identification. An organization from Australia, the Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), has compiled some useful

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information on invertebrate sampling, identification and significance. Having a basic understanding of these concepts will be very helpful in the field and when performing species identification. http://www.ento.csiro.au/education/what_invertebrates.html Much of our work revolves around the conservation of sea turtles. The following link gives a good amount of information on turtle species, ecology and threats. Our commitment to sea turtle conservation makes up a large part of the project here in Phang Nga. http://www.conserveturtles.org/seaturtleinformation.php

4. PROJECT SUMMARY Your time on the Phang Nga Coastal conservation program will be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. We provide a diverse program which is both physically and mentally demanding but with visible and tangible conservation outcomes. Please read the information in this manual and suggested readings carefully to ensure that you are prepared for your time with GVI and to ensure you get the most out of your stay. It is important to remember that the projects are constantly evolving and activities are highly variable according the needs of our partners here in Thailand. Whether it is your first time abroad or if you are a seasoned traveller you will be having new, exciting and sometimes challenging experiences. It is vital that you approach the project with an open mind and a positive attitude. We look forward to having you stay with us and GVI is excited to offer you the opportunity to contribute to conservation in a practical and meaningful way!

5. LIFE ON BASE Our volunteer house is located on the main street of Ban Nam Khem. It is well equipped with everything you will need for a comfortable stay. Accommodation is shared and mixed, so be prepared to have some roommates. There are 4 separate projects running from this hub so you will be living with volunteers with an array of backgrounds, ages and interests. Volunteers will be participating in one or a combination of 4 programs: Marine & Coastal conservation, Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), Teaching Children and Healthcare. Amenities The house has a fully functional kitchen, running water, electricity and even Internet. We have 2 toilets on base, both of which use a bucket flush system. It is not recommended to drink from mains water supply in Thailand, GVI provides adequate access to fresh, safe drinking water. While we do our best to maintain a comfortable standard of living, please be aware that infrastructure in Thailand is not up to the same maintenance and upkeep standards as you may be used to. It is not uncommon to have power outages, water shortages and interruption to the delivery of other services.

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Supplies Our base is conveniently located close to shops, markets etc. where you can find toiletry and food supplies, clothes and whatever else you may need. Specialist items and western brand names are not always available in the village but all essentials can be found within a short distance from base. Refer to your field manual for a list of specific items that you need to bring. Food GVI provides 3 meals a day to all volunteers, while on base. If you leave the village of Ban Nam Khem, for any reason other than project work, GVI is under no responsibility to supply food. Breakfast normally consists of a selection of toast, margarine, jam, oats, tea & coffee. Eggs or pancakes and fruit may be included on specific days, subject to availability. Lunch is usually eaten at local restaurants. An allowance of 50THB will be provided to volunteers for lunch. Volunteers are welcome to spend more on their lunch however they must pay the difference. There is a huge selection of meals available for 50THB or less. Please note that volunteers will often be provided lunch as part of their project activities. In these instances an allowance will not be provided. From Sunday – Thursday, a local cook prepares traditional Thai dinner at our volunteer house. One day a week, groups of volunteers are encouraged to plan and cook dinner for the whole base. On Friday & Saturday a dinner allowance of 50THB will be provided. Vegetarian options are available, however more specific dietary requirements can be harder to cater for. These should be made known to GVI well in advance of your arrival. Please note that if you leave base for a weekend/evening GVI is not responsible for providing food. Laundry Volunteers are responsible for their own laundry expenses including sheets, pillow cases etc. Several options are available for laundry. Hand washing is the cheapest option, however there are a couple of Laundromats within walking distance of the house usually costing between 30 – 50THB per load. A pickup/dropoff laundry service is sometimes available for a price of 4THB per clothing item and 10THB per sheet. Sleeping arrangements As mentioned previously, accommodation is shared and mixed sex. In the event that volunteer numbers are high, GVI may rent a room for volunteers to stay in. This room is located next to the Staff/Intern house, which is a short walk from the main base. Weekend activities There are a number of options for weekend travel and activities. Our hub is located close to a number well-known tourist attractions, national parks etc. Your best resource for advice and recommendations will be other volunteers on the project All the information above is correct as of March 2016. Please be aware that situations in the field may change at short notice. GVI will strive to keep you up to date with any changes prior to your departure. For the latest information straight from the field, like our facebook page, follow us on twitter and check out our blog.

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Figure 2: Some photos of the volunteer house

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6. INTRODUCTION TO THAI LANGUAGE Thai is the national official language of Thailand and the native language of the Thai people. Thai is a member of the Tai group of the Tai-Kadai language family. Over half of the words in Thai are borrowed from Pali, Sanskrit and old Khmer. It is a tonal and analytic language, different to many European languages. There are no articles or tenses in Thai and pronouns are often omitted in informal sentences. Therefore, sentences can be very short and their construction is less complex that the English language. Sounds to be aware of: ‘Ph’ is a hard sound as in ‘pool’ ‘Th’ is a hard sound as in ‘tooth’ Tones The Thai language is different from European languages as it is a tonal language. There are five tones Midtone Lowtone Falling tone High tone Rising tone Polite words There are two words in Thai that are added to make anything you say sound more polite. The longer the vowel sound, the politer you are. For women:

kha

For men:

krup

Greetings There are two kinds of greetings: Formal: Informal:

Hello Where are you going? Where have you been?

Sawat dee kha/krup Bpainai? Bpai nai ma?

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Pronouns are often omitted in information conversation. For example: Where are you going? Bpainai? I am going out/travelling around

Bpai teow

I am going to eat

Bpai ginkhao

I am going home

Glapbaan

I am going to see a friend

Bpaihaapheuan

I am going to the market

Bpaita-laad

I am going to Khao Lak seaview hotel

Bpai rong- raem khao lak seaview Hotel

Note the sentence structure: verb – noun – name of hotel Theow

Travel around

Ginkhao

To eat

Glap

Return

Baan

Home

Haa

To see

Pheuan

Friend

Rong- raem

Hotel

Ran ah-haan

Restaurant

Ta-laad

Market

Ta-na-kaarn

Bank

Krung theyp

Bankok

Asking how someone is. How are you?/Are you well? I am well.

Sabaideemai kha/krup Sabaideekha/krup

Putting it together A:Sawat dee kha. B:Sawat deekrup. 14

A:Sabaideemaikha? B:Sabaideekrup. Personal pronouns I/me/my (male)

Pom

I/me/my (female)

Chan

You/your (one person)

Khun

He/him/his

Khao(but khun is ok too)

She/her/hers

Thur (but khun is ok too)

It

Mun

We/us

Phuakrao

You (plural)

Phuakkhun

They/them (plural)

Phuakkhao

Asking someone’s name What is your name?

Khuncheu a-rai? Khun

you

Cheu

name

A-rai

what

My name is _________.

And what’s your name?

Chan/Pomcheu ____________. Chan/Pom

My (female/male)

Cheu

name

Laeokhuncheu a-rai? Laeo

And

Khun

You

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Cheu

Name

a-rai

what

Putting it together: A:Sawat dee kha. B:Sawat dee khup. A:Sabai deemai kha? B:Sabai deekrup. A: Khuncheu a-rai kha? B:Pomcheu Tim krup. Laeokhun cheu a-raikrup? A:Chancheu Sophie kha.

Nice to meet you! Nice to meet you.

Yin deetee rujakkha/krup. Yin dee

Nice

tee

To

Rujak

meet

Saying goodbye You can just say

sawat dee kha/krup

but you can also say

laa gone kha/krup

See you later

laew jer gan mai kha/krup

Putting it together A:Sawat dee kha. B:Sawat deekrup. A:Sabai deemai kha? B:Sabai deekrup. 16

A:Khuncheu a-rai kha? B:Pomcheu Tim krup. Laeokhun cheu a-raikrup? A:Chancheu Sophie kha. B:Yin deetee rujak krup. A:Yin dee teeru jakkha. B:Laagonekrup. A:Laagone kha. The eight most common words in Thai Dee

Good

Sa-nuk

Fun/enjoyable

A-roi

Delicious

Suay

Beautiful

Phaeng

Expensive

Ao

To want

Mee

To have

Chawp

To like

Asking yes/no questions To make yes/no questions, add ‘mai’ (with a high tone) after the word. You answer yes by repeating the verb or no but putting ‘mai’ (with a falling tone) before the answer. Is it good? Deemai? Is it fun? Sa-nukmai? Yes, it’s good.

Dee

Yes, it’s fun.

Sa-nuk

No, it’s not good.

Mai dee

No, it isn’t fun

Mai sa-nuk

Is it delicious? Yes, it’s delicious.

A-roimai? A-roi

It is beautiful? Yes, it’s beautiful.

Suaymai? Suay.

No, it’s not delicious

Mai a-roi.

No, it’s not beautiful.

Maisuay.

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Is it expensive?

Phaengmai?

Do you want it?

Aomai?

Yes, it’s expensive.

Phaeng.

Yes, I want it.

Ao.

No, it’s not expensive.

Mai phaeng.

No, I don’t want it.

Maiao.

Do you have it?

Meemai?

Do you like it?

Yes, I have it.

Mee

Yes, I like it.

No, I don’t have it.

Mai mee.

No, I don’t like it.

Chawpmai? Chawp. Mai chawp.

Saying thank you Thank you.

Kawpkhun kha/krup.

Numbers 0

soon

11

sip et

1

nung

12

sip sohng

2

sohng

13

sip saam

3

saam

14

sip see

4

see

15

sip haa

5

haa

16

sip hok

6

hok

17

sip jet

7

jet

18

sip bpaert

8

bpaert

19

sipgao

9

gao

10

sip

20

yee sip

21

yeesip et

30

saamsip

22

yee sip sohng

40

see sip

23

yeesipsaam

18

50

haasip

33

saam sip saam

60

hok sip

45

see siphaa

70

jet sip

55

haasiphaa

80

bpaert sip

73

jet sipsaam

90

gao sip

99

gaosip gao

100

nungroi

150

nungroi haa sip

200

sohngroi

250

sohngroi haasip

300

saam roi

475

seeroi jet siphaa

400

see roi

824

bpaertroi yeesip see

500

haa roi

639

hok roisaam sipgao

600

hok roi

700

jetroi

800

bpaertroi

900

gao roi

1000

nung phan

1500

nungphanhaa roi

2000

sohngphan

4760

seephanjet roihok sip

3000

saamphan

8973 bpaertphan gaoroi jet sipsaam

4000

see phan

5000

haaphan

6000

hokphan

7000

jet phan

8000

bpaert phan

9000

gao phan

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10,000

Meun

100,000

Saen

1,000,000

Lan

1,000,000,000

Phan lan

Asking someone’s age How old are you?

Ayu tao-rai?

I’m ______ years old.

Chan/pom______ bpee.

Ayu

You have

Tao-rai

How many

bpee

Years

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