Celebrity Conservationist Visits Thailand
Added to website: 17 March 2005
David Bellamy Assists with Post-Tsunami Environmental Rehabilitation
Broadcaster and conservationist, Professor David Bellamy OBE, will visit Bangkok next week (21-24 March 2005) to present the findings of a British-Thai research mission to assess the impact of the December 2004 tsunami on the country’s coral reefs.
A group of leading marine biologists from the award-winning British coral reef conservation group, Coral Cay Conservation (CCC), officials from the Thai Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and academics from Ramkhamhaeng University, were deployed earlier in the month by the Government of Thailand to perform two weeks of intensive field surveys within the Surin Islands Marine National Park, Northern Thailand. Using cutting-edge technology and fieldwork, the team successfully assessed the damage caused by the tsunami on reefs and mangroves in the Marine Park, an area of outstanding natural beauty and great value to the tourism industry.
Peter Raines MBE, Founder and Managing Director of CCC, who will be accompanying Prof Bellamy during his visit, 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.”
Prof Bellamy, the well-known TV celebrity and environmental campaigner (who is also the President of CCC) will attend a press briefing at the British Ambassador’s Residence in Bangkok on Thursday 24 March to discuss the results of the research and its implications for restoring Thailand’s unique marine resources.
Early analysis of data collected by the field team suggests that whilst impacts are apparent in some areas, they are extremely localised and the overall structure and function of the reefs in the area remains intact. It is also apparent from the research that there have been impacts in the past which, whilst not attributable to either natural events or human disturbance, have left far larger and more profound scars. It is clear that the high biodiversity and ecological function of Park’s coral reefs remains and that they should continue to attract sustainable tourism use and the enjoyment of the wider community.
CCC is greatful to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, agencies within the Thailand Government, British Airways and Emirates Airline and the United Nations Environment Program - World Conservation Monitoring Centre, and Space Imaging Solutions for their support of the mission.
