MOU

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING SIGNING CEREMONY

 

Department of Marine and Coastal Resource, Thailand  

and

International Cultural & Educational Foundation, Inc. (ICEF)

 MOU

January 26, 2008, Koh Wai Pakarang Resort, Trad Province

 

 Signing of MOU

 

Coral reefs protection, recovery, and transplantation identified as one of the highest priorities for International Cultural and Educational Foundation (ICEF), and the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources of Thailand. Coral reefs within Southeast Asia region are suffering degradation from a combination of natural and human-caused stresses. Within the last 15 to 20 years, the amount of live coral cover has declined, while the abundance of algae has increased. Coral reefs have been hit by a series of typhoons and recently Tsunami and have experienced several episodes of bleaching.

 

To save these reefs for the future, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources of Thailand and the International Cultural and Educational Foundation, Inc signed a Memorandum of Understanding to conserve corals and other endangered species such as Green Sea Turtle, giant clams, anemone fish, and abalone fish at Koh Wai Pakarang Resort, Trad Province on January 26, 2008.  There were more than 655 participants:

Total                 680

 

There were 3 groups coming from media side: Local cable TV, representatives for 3 radio stations in Thailand, and newspapers and magazines.

 

The program was divided into two parts: one is the MOU signing ceremony in the morning and in the afternoon is the Conservation Project by releasing sea animal endangered species. The signing ceremony started at 11:00 am with a report of Mr. Supornchai Suttimark, Managing Director of Koh Wai Pakarang Resort followed by the Welcoming Remarks of Dr, Micmin Charunchinda, Director of Eastern Thai Gulf Marine Coastal Resource and Research Center. Dr. Wannakiat Thubthimsang, Director of the Institute for Research and Development of Marine and Coastal Resources, Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, and Dr. Christopher P.H. Kim, founder of International Cultural and Educational Foundation, signed the MOU witnessed by Dr, Micmin Charunchinda and Mr. Kyle Kim, Executive Director of ICEF.

 

Marine Conservation Project

In the afternoon, the participants were entertained by school children songs and Thai traditional instrument, while other participants joined the coral cultivation (Coral nursery)  under the leadership of Ajarn Prasan Saengpaiboon, from Rambhai Barni Rajabhat University of Chanthaburi while the other participants enjoyed the snorkeling in front, just few meters away, of Koh Wai Pakarang (Coral) Resort.

 

 

 

The representative of Trad’s Governor, Mr. Somsak Yonokpan, the Vice Governor of Trad, arrived at 3 pm to open the Collaboration Project on Marine Conservation and Releasing Aquatic Animals. The program started with the Welcoming Remarks of Mr. Pasit Sirimalai, ICEF Thailand representative and Board of Director, ICEF International. The Vice Governor, Mr. Yonokpan was very impressed with ICEF to collaborate this coral cultivation and conservation of endangered aquatic animals since this is the first time in Thailand to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with a Non-Governmental Organization.

 

ICEF representatives were invited to come up on stage to receive the 5000 coral branches for Coral cultivation, 1000 giant clams, 1000 abalone and another 100 anemone fish which we will put them in a big fishnet  to adapt the environment before releasing them. Around 6 pm, together with the Vice Governor, ICEF representatives and other local government representatives, we released 25 green sea turtle (1 year and 4 months old). 

 

 

 

We received feedbacks from the participants that the people of Koh Chang and the representatives of the local government of Trad agreed to have this project to protect the environment, also to promote ecological tourism but of course they will be watching this project this is first project that has been collaborated by many local government department such as the Marine Department, the Navy, the Forest Reserve Department, business sectors and NGOs.

 

The ICEF, Koh Wai Pakarang Resort and the Marine Department are raising another 30 turtles in Koi Wai. This Marine Department’s Green Sea Turtle Conservation Project is under the royal program of Her Majesty the Queen. This Ocean Providence in Koh Wai Pakarang Resort will help to promote ecological tourism not only the local community but also the local and international tourist not just only enjoying the environment but also to sustaining and returning their love to the nature.

 

Sponsors:

 

  1. Designated Area for Sustainable Tourism Administration (Food and fuel  boats)

500,000.00
  1. UNEP/GEF (United Nations Environment Programme/Global Environment Facility)  to  support the coral bank project

30,000.00
  1. Conservation of Marine and Coastal Resource Center

15,000.00
  1. ICEF (Food)

200,000.00
  1. Conservation Center

15,000.00
  1. Tai Vuth

3,000.00

 

Sponsors (In Kind):

 

  1. Marine Department

 

1 Big Boat for transfer VIP. Capacity:  30-40  persons 

  1.  Department of Fisheries

 

Speed Boat and 1 boat
  1. Trad National Park

 

Speed Boat  and 2 boats (including fuel)
  1. Department of Marine and Coastal Resource

 

Speed Boat  and 2 boats (including fuel)
  1. Koh Wai Pakarang Resort

 

2 Boats (Julia White 2 and 3)
  1. Mrs. Sucianna Nijkosol

Sea shell – 100 kg.
  1. Dijano Shop

Squid – 100 kg,
  1. Sea Hunter

Drinking Water

Conclusion:

 

Originally, the Marine Department and ICEF plan to hold a small MOU Ceremony but the engineer of Koh Wai Phakarang Resort, Ajarn Domrongsak Kaewyongmai,  felt that we should inform the local government of Trad regarding this project to avoid conflict and misunderstanding.

 

As a result, many other local government departments are interested of collaborating ICEF’s future projects and even willing to sign MOU with ICEF just like the Sustainable Development Tourism Organization, the Koh Chang Mayor’s office. There will be more opportunities, more partners and more sponsors coming as the result of this Marine Conservation Program.

 

 

Prepared by:

Delia C. Javanasundara

Secretary General,  ICEF-Thailand