Kuan Khreng

(Peat swamp preservation)

Work Camp – code: DaLaa6303

Dates: 1-10 March, 2020 (Maximum number of volunteers: 15)

SHORT DESCRIPTION

Volunteers will join hands with local communities of South Thailand to raise awareness about the rich ecosystem of tropical peat swamp. This event is organized after the big fire of July-Aug 2019 that damaged an important part of the swamp by two local organizations “Withee Tai” community and “Kon Rak Tin” (=People love the local).

Why does the peat swamp require our intervention?

Forested peat swamp forests cover more than 9,900 hectares on the borders of Nakhon Si Thammarat, Patthalung, and Songkhla Provinces. About 800 hectares of the peat swamp have been destroyed by 88 fires in the first half of 2019. The Royal Forest Department says that most of the fires in the Khuan Khreng peat swamp forest were man-made. Criminals clear the forest for the illegal expansion of rubber and oil palm plantations. Honey collectors and fishermen were also complicit as they burn grass to catch fish or to collect wild honey. Khuan Khreng peat swamp was hit by drought in what is normally the rainy season, making it susceptible to arson. The forest is surrounded by oil palm plantations and surface water in the forest has been drained out to feed the plantations. [1]

The main objectives of the workcamp are:

  • To spread awareness regarding the preservation of peat swamps among locals and international visitors;
  • To educate local people, including children how to prevent fires and how to help the area recover;
  • To bring the locals together and inspire them to take action against the destruction of the peat swamps
  • To propagate the local wisdom by encouraging the villagers to share their crafting skills with the participants.

The activities of the workcamp will be the following:

  • Learning about the swamp ecosystem through walking and animal/tree watching;
  • Learning and practicing local crafts from the wisdom of villagers using raw materials: mattresses, bags, fishing tools, natural straws, etc.
  • Making signs and other awareness-related art and exhibiting it in a 1-day installation;
  • Practicing healthy and sustainable daily lifestyle, planting trees.

** We will try to mix Thai volunteers and international from different countries but we cannot guarantee it. We will keep you informed during and after your application.

REQUIREMENTS

The volunteers should be ready to stay in a local area, to adapt to the local conditions with only basic facilities. Very few local people are able to speak in English.

FOOD and ACCOMODATION

Volunteers will sleep in a local school. There will be simple mats, pillow and mosquito net. You will need to bring your sleeping bag and a small mattress. There are basic toilets, showers and a kitchen at the school canteen. The villagers will help the volunteers to cook.  Local people eat rice (or noodles) 3 times a day with side dishes like curries, omelets, local leaves and vegetables. Volunteers will be welcome to cook their own food using the ingredients available there. (No oven, only a gas and woks or pans).


[1] Information from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakhon_Si_Thammarat_Province