| Yonok
Wetlands Project near Chiang Saen |
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Introduction
Yonok Wetlands (Photo by Mick
Davies) |
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It
has long been recognized that the Chiang Saen region of Chiang
Rai province in Northern Thailand is important for wetland bird
species with the River Mekong consistently hosting scarce wintering
species and the Non-hunting Area of Nong Bong Khai (Chiang Saen
lake) being one of the most important sites in Thailand for
wintering wildfowl including small numbers of Baer's Pochard,
currently listed as vulnerable by Birdlife
International. However,
over the last year a number of exciting ornithological observations,
including a visiting River Tern, nesting Grass Owls and the
largest roost of Harriers in Thailand, have been reported from
another area of wetlands to the southwest of Nong Bong Khai
Non-hunting Area; this area has been given the name of Yonok
Wetlands. |
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| Yonok
Wetlands is an area of freshwater marshes, bog, drainage channels,
reedbeds and woodland along a river valley bisected by a causeway,
which effectively divides the wetlands into a northern and southern
section. Preliminary surveys based on 5 years of observations suggest
that it is an important area for many wetland species including egrets
and bitterns, crakes and rails, waders and warblers. Unfortunately
the area is currently not afforded any level of protection from the
Non-hunting Area and over the years the abundance of birds has been
much reduced, due to drainage and hunting. These problems have been
highlighted by the discovery, by Dowroong Danlamajak and Mick Davies,
of widespread mist netting and shooting (including the shooting of
nesting Grass Owls) by local villagers and occupants of buffalo camps
as well as the highly destructive practice of "blitzing"
by outsiders, whereby organized gangs spend a day or two trapping
as high a proportion of the fish stocks as possible before leaving
with their haul. |
Yonok Wetlands
(Photo by Mick Davies) |
Conservation
Efforts
Fortunately for the birds, and other wildlife of Yonok Wetlands,
a number of conservation initiatives have already begun, particularly
in the northern section. Due to the good relations that have been
established with local village leaders and monks, hunting has all
but stopped in this northern sector and efforts have been made to
encourage the cessation of hunting in the southern sector also.
Although local Non-hunting officials have actively supported the
efforts to relieve hunting pressure on the birds of Yonok Wetlands,
the main thrust of achieving this objective has been supplied by
the local awareness campaign instigated by Dowroong and Mick and
enthusiastically supported by the abbotts of three local temples:
Wat Yonok, Wat Pa Mak No and a new, as yet, unnamed temple. Indeed,
these temples have long protected the wildlife within their grounds
and it is now the wish of the monks within one of these temples
to extend their protective influence across the whole of the wetland.
Indeed, by reasserting the precepts of Buddhism throughout the local
community, all interested parties hope to nurture a sense of stewardship
of Yonok Wetlands and this has resulted in the formation of the
"Friends of Yonok Wetlands". |
Children
bringing trees for planting at Wat Pa Mak No
(Photo by Mick
Davies) |
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The
local community have entered very enthusiastically into this
project and have benefited from the English lessons provided
by Dowroong and Mick. These lessons have been provided on
a voluntary basis and have been attended by as many as 150
people, including many of the local monks and children of
people formerly involved in hunting the wildlife that they
are now actively protecting. These English lessons have focused
on basic communication and have incorporated elements on conservation
and Buddhist teachings. So far sessions have included poster
construction to further publicize the project, bird art and
tree planting within the grounds of Wat Pa Mak No, when as
many as 70 children each planted a native tree species.
An important
step that has been taken is the establishment of a relationship
with the occupants of buffalo herding camps within the wetland
areas. These people have formerly been responsible for much
of the hunting and have taken positively to being encouraged
to stop hunting birds in the wetlands. |
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The
Yonok Wetland project has most recently been given a massive boost
with the arrival of one of Northern Thailand's most followed monks,
Khru Ba Boun Chum, who has been given land adjacent to the wetlands
for the establishment of a meditation centre. On Sunday 22nd July
a ceremony was held at this site and many high ranking officials
attended and it is hoped that these connections will strengthen
the project's chances of success. An extract from John Robert's
Golden
Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation blog outlines how influential
the arrival of Khru Ba Boun Chum may be to the Yonok Wetland Project:
"When
Khru Ba Boun Chum speaks people listen, yesterday he visited the
site of his new meditation centre, feted by the local Nai Amphur
(Mayor) and the General with control of Chiang Rai, the TV cameras
were there, as were at least 1,000 villagers eager to be seen
to plant a tree."
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Dignitaries meeting
Khru Ba Boun Chum
(Photo from Golden Triangle
Asian Elephant Foundation) |
Objectives
Although a number of successes have already been achieved and the
potential for a long-term conservation project in this area has
been highlighted, it is recognized that there is still a huge amount
of work to do before this initiative can be considered as a viable
conservation project. To this end a number of attainable objectives
have been loosely outlined:
| 1.
To encourage tourists to visit the area so that the local
economy receives a boost from the commitment already shown
by villagers and to provide some funding for further conservation
work. So far no target has been set for the number of visitors.
2. To
stop all hunting in the area and to encourage locals and visitors
to remain committed to this aim.
3. To
obtain funding from interested parties in order to continue
and extend the teaching program and to develop the environmental
education aspect of this program in order to encourage a culture
of stewardship. |
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Yonok Wetlands
poster made by local children
(Photo by Mick
Davies) |
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Support
and Funding
As well as the villagers around Yonok Wetlands and the leaders of
the temples, a number of other people have lent their support to
this project:
- Khun May
and Khun Boonpop of the nearby Non-hunting Area have pledged their
support for preventing hunting and encroachment onto the wetlands.
- Dr Mong of
the Lanna Bird Group has pledged his group's support to furthering
the aims of this project and has already made a very useful monetary
donation.
- John Roberts
of Golden Triangle
Asian Elephant Foundation and based at Anantara
Resort Golden Triangle has supported this initiative from
the outset and will attempt to procure a grant from an undisclosed
charitable trust.
- I will use
thaibirding.com to publicize the Yonok Wetlands project in order
to encourage birdwatchers to visit and pay for guiding services.
- Birdwatchers
visiting Thailand can support this project by visiting the area
and paying for guiding services which will help finance teaching
and wildlife surveys.
Dowroong and
Mick believe that what the villagers and monks need, in order to
ensure the long-term success of the Yonok Wetlands project, is paying
visitors as well as charitable grants/donations. It has been recognized
that ecotourism can be very important in safeguarding wetland habitats
and providing sustainable development for local communities: Wetlands,
poverty reduction and sustainable tourism development. |
Birds
of Yonok Wetlands
Male Pied
Harrier
(Photo by John
& Jemi Holmes) |
|
Visitors
to Yonok Wetlands can easily spend a day watching typical
wetland birds with many species of crakes and rails, egrets,
herons, bitterns, waders and wildfowl present. This location's
geographic position means that rare or even new species to
Thailand are likely to be found, a fact that is highlighted
by the recent discovery of nesting Gras Owls and the presence
of species such as Swinhoe's Snipe and Comb Duck. For raptor
enthusiasts, Yonok Wetlands holds the largest harrier roost
in the country with over 200 birds in mid winter. Both Eastern
Marsh Harrier and Pied Harrier are present and enthusiasts
may even find Western Marsh or Hen Harriers, although these
species have not yet been confirmed. Other species of raptor
that have been recorded at this location include Oriental
Honey-buzzard, Crested Goshawk, Northern Goshawk and Grey-faced
Buzzard amongst many others.
The open
aspect and abundance of birds at Yonok Wetalnds means that
an excellent day's birdwatching is available for visitors
to the area. |
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Further
Information
Birdwatchers who are interested in knowing more about this project
or wishing to visit Yonok Wetlands can either contact me nickupton@thaibirding.com
or Mick Davies dowroongd@yahoo.com |
About
Mick Davies and Dowroong Damlammajak
Dowroong Danlammajak originates from the Chiang Saen
region of Chiang Rai; she is an enthusiastic birdwatcher and a good
all-round naturalist. Dowroong is also a committed Buddhist, with
a high level of knowledge of the religion and she is very highly regarded
by the local monks: she has forged invaluable links with highly influential
local temples.
Mick Davies has over 40 years birdwatching experience
including 5 years in the Chiang Saen region. He has traveled widely
in Southeast Asia and contributed numerous ornithological records
to national recorders in both Thailand and England.
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| Update |
Unfortunately,
Mick and Dowroong failed to get funding from an Indepedant Conservation
Fund at this stage, making support and donations from individuals
even more important. However, as committed conservationists they
are continuing with the Yonok Wetlands Project and continue to receive
valuable support from the Lanna Bird Group, local monks and all
the previously mentioned interested parties. Furthermore, another
useful local ally has become involved: Ian & Vassana Smith of
Viang Yonok Hotel who have
already made a monetary donation and have pledged to support the
work of Mick and Dowroong.
Such has been
the success of the Yonok Wetlands Project so far, volunteers
are now required to help with teaching the local children and
to survey the area in terms of avifauna and other faunistic groups
as well as flora. |
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Useful
Reading:
Conservation
and Development: the Sustainable Use of Wetland Resources
Economic
Value of Ecosystems: 1 - Tropical Wetlands
Ecotourism:
Principles, Practice and Policies for Sustainability
Tropical
Freshwater Wetlands: A Guide to Current Knowledge and Sustainable
Management
Wetland
Ecology: Principles and Conservation (Cambridge Studies in Ecology)
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Related
Pages:
Baer's Pochard
Chiang Saen
Chiang Saen Checklist
(Mekong River)
Chiang Saen Checklist (Nong
Bong Khai)
Enthusiastic Monks & Visiting Experts at Yonok Wetlands
Headquarters
for Yonok Wetlands
Is Chiang Saen Lake shrinking?
Latest Additions to Thai Checklist
Massive Increase in Bird Trapping
at Chiang Saen
Northern Thailand Birdwatching
Locations
Sign-making and binocular presentation
at Yonok Wetlands
Volunteers required at Yonok Wetlands
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