Background
Koh Tao is a major tourist destination and the small island has around 500,000 visitors annually. Not managed properly, this high volume of tourists can have a detrimental impact on the local eco-systems. However, with innovative policies and a participatory approach, it is possible to have a healthy balance of economic growth while not damaging the environment and eco-systems.
One of the starting points in these efforts is a robust education and awareness campaign involving all stakeholders. Everyone needs to understand and be aware of the issues, damage, and implications of not addressing these problems. This is also empowering when people have the realization that they can help and have an impact as opposed to being a bystander.
Our local community partner engages with these education and outreach efforts as well as multiple conservation projects ranging from: reef construction, data collection & surveys, buoy repair to prevent anchor use, raising clams, as well as land efforts such as trash clean ups and reducing plastic usage. With education and awareness coupled with ongoing conservation projects, this has proven successful with data showing signs of progress and improvement.
Project
This conservation themed trip will have participants designing and building their own artificial reef structure! Our community partner on Koh Tao, for the past 10 years, have been creating and growing an artificial reef zone. The reef that participants build will be dropped and utilized by our community partner. On a daily basis they dive to the artificial al reef site for maintenance and transplanting growing coral to the structures.
In addition to building an artificial reef, participants will help and learn about Coral Watch which is a participatory method of collecting and entering data on the health of coral and reefs.
Impact
The tangible impact will be a new reef structure(s) and data entered through Coral Watch. Also, we hope that participants will leave with a better understanding of marine conservation, issues facing the ocean and coral reefs, and innovative solutions and ways to help.
Multiple beach and ocean cleans will done throughout the trip as well.
Location
Koh Samui & Koh Tao, Thailand
