2004 Tsunami Disaster- CCC gives technical assistance to Thai government
Added to website: 21 February 2005
A group of top marine biologists from the award-winning British coral reef conservation group, Coral Cay Conservation, have been deployed by the Government of Thailand to assess the impact of the December 2004 tsunami on their coral reefs.
The mission, supported by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the British Government, is the result of a preparatory mission under taken by CCC’s Director of Marine Science, James Comley, earlier in the month. A team comprised of senior science staff from within CCC and fomer expedition science staff departed for Thailand this week. After some initial follow-up and scoping meetings with relevant Thai Government Agencies, the team will undertake two weeks of intensive field surveys within the Surin Islands Marine National Park, Northern Thailand. In addition to this international contingent, the team will be joined by personnel from the Department of National Parks research group and staff from The Ramkhamhaeng University, Bangkok.
The resulting team is truly multidisciplinary and will allow an efficient exchange and collaboration in technical skills and capacity. Following this field work, the team will perform the analysis of the data collected and report the findings of the study back to the Thai Government before examining the potential for a continued collaborative venture between CCC and the relevant Government Agencies.
On receiving the request for assistance, Peter Raines MBE, CCC’s Founder and Managing Director said:
“The tsunami tragedy has devastated vast areas of coral reefs and coastal forest systems upon which the future livelihoods of the countless people affected now depend. It is also becoming clear that the few pockets of coastal areas with healthy mangrove forests still intact prior to this event acted as natures own sea defences, dissipating much of the brunt of the devastating waves. Immediate action is now required to put these vital life-support systems back into working order and I am delighted that CCC has been invited to do just that.”
CCC would like to pay gratitude to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the agencies within the Royal Thailand Government whom have identified the need to undertake this action, British Airways and Emirates Airline for their logistical support and to the United Nations Environment Program - World Conservation Monitoring Centre and Space Imaging Solutions based in Bangkok, who have provided high resolution satellite imagery upon which the survey team can base its work.
