Ban Lam Puen, a coastal village in Satun Province, Thailand, once faced serious challenges brought about by the degradation of its coastal and marine resources. Illegal fishing practices, including trawling, placed increasing pressure on the area’s marine ecosystem, affecting the resources that local fishing households depended on for their livelihoods.
In response, a new generation of local fishers stepped forward to lead efforts to protect and restore their coastal environment. Community members began implementing conservation activities to bring life back to their degraded coastal areas including planting mangroves and releasing aquatic species to help replenish marine resources.
For the villagers, restoring the coastal environment was not just an environmental concern. The health of the mangroves, coastal waters, and marine habitats was closely connected to their food, income, and future as a fishing community. Mangrove forests became a central part of the community’s conservation efforts. Villagers recognized their importance as breeding and nursery grounds for aquatic species, as well as their role in protecting the shoreline from waves and coastal erosion.
The community also installed artificial reefs, or “fish homes,” offshore to create additional habitats where marine life could grow and thrive.
These measures were accompanied by locally developed regulations designed to protect the resources from further degradation.
Ban Lam Puen’s conservation rules include prohibiting illegal fishing gear and practices, as well as preventing the harvesting of immature aquatic animals. The cutting of mangrove trees is also prohibited.
By agreeing on and enforcing these rules collectively, villagers have created a system of community-based resource management that reflects their local conditions and knowledge.
The approach recognizes that conservation is most effective when the people who depend on natural resources are directly involved in deciding how those resources should be used and protected.
Ban Lam Puen has also incorporated community-based tourism into its resource management approach. The initiative provides villagers with an additional source of income while creating opportunities for visitors to learn about the community’s coastal environment, conservation activities, and local way of life.
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