August 7, 2009
The Government of Japan is extending Grant Assistance under the Grassroots Human Security Projects scheme (GGP) to the project “to improve the environment and further the welfare of communities around Songkhla Lake”. H.E. Mr. Kyoji Komachi, Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom of Thailand, and Mr. Banjong Nasae, president of the Thai Sea Watch Association, signed a contract on August 7, 2009 at the Embassy of Japan.
Songkla Lake is a large estuarine lake in southern Thailand which extends over three provinces: Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, and Songkhla. It has a more complicated biodiversity than other estuaries. Aquatic creatures, mangroves, seaweed, and coral provide a livelihood for fishermen living in 166 villages around the lake.
However, fish and shellfish are decreasing because of a deterioration of water quality caused by sewage from households and factories, logging of mangroves, closing of water gates to retain water for agricultural use, damage to the bottom of the lake by dragnet fishery, and so on. Only 400 kinds of fish now remain compared with more than 700 kinds several decades ago. In this context, fishermen find it hard to make a living, and have to find work at factories or other places. Besides, various problems have occurred in communities because of absence of support for families.
The participation of local people is essential for the sustainable restoration of natural resources and the environment of Songkhla Lake. However, resource management by local people is difficult to maintain, because their living conditions are vulnerable, and welfare from the government is limited.
At the request of the Thai Sea Watch Association, the Government of Japan has decided to provide a total of 2,888,300 baht to cover funds for the establishment of a savings group, to support activities for restoring and protecting the environment, vocational training, and youth education.
It is expected that the environmental protection activities will be carried out by the villagers themselves and that their quality of life will improve, because part of the profits of the savings group will be allocated to restoration of the environment and the welfare of members, while income will be generated as a result of vocational training. Besides, it is also expected that future community leaders will emerge through youth educational activities.
The Government of Japan is willing to continue its support for projects which contribute to environmental restoration and protection at grassroots level through its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects scheme (GGP).
