To support policymakers and practitioners in integrating CCA and EbA into planning and implementation processes, we are developing a series of guidance products which includes:

• a ‘River Basin Master Plan Process Toolbox’ which is a compilation of relevant concepts and tools to help run and facilitate effective and participatory processes, for example in meetings and workshops, for RBMP development and project planning in the context of climate-sensitive IWRM and EbA in river basins.
• an ‘EbA Guidebook’ which will be a guiding material for training Thai professionals in the water and other related sectors on Ecosystem-based Adaptation. In developing this guidebook, a series of workshops and on-the-job trainings are organized to ensure that practitioners are familiar with the concepts and able to integrate EbA into planning and management processes in river basins.
• an ‘EbA Code of Practice’ (EbA CoP) which is being developed in parallel to the Guidebook, is an essential part to support the implementation of EbA solutions on the ground. It offers blueprints of different EbA options and provides technical guidance on aspects such as design principles and cost-benefit analyses to practitioners and engineers in the Thai water sector.

To foster multi-level and cross-sectoral collaborations and create ownership in river basin management, an inclusive and multi-stakeholder approach was fostered to effectively address water-related climate risks on the ground. This includes working closely with public agencies across sectors at both national and sub-national levels, experts, and local water users.

These relevant agencies include, for example, the Office of National Water Resources (ONWR), the Royal Irrigation Department (RID), Department of Water Resources (DWR), Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning (DPT), and Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM).

The Capacity Development Programme is a good opportunity and platform for government officers, water users, and local communities to contribute to the development of climate-sensitive water management at the river basin scale. With this training course, participants are able to understand and apply relevant tools for climate-resilient and sustainable water resources management that respond to the needs of local people in the context of climate change.

In addition, there is ongoing cooperation with universities and international experts that feeds up-to-date research and international best practices into the work on EbA in Thailand. 

Thailand’s Water Resources Act that came into effect in 2019 enhanced the roles of the River Basin Committees (RBCs) in Thailand’s 22 river basins. The RBCs – consisting of representatives from different agencies and sectors, water user organizations representing civil society and the private sector – are now the key actors in the multi-stakeholder development of the River Basin Master Plans (RBMPs).

Subsequently, ONWR and GIZ developed a comprehensive Capacity Development Programme (CDP) aiming to strengthen the technical and institutional capacity of the RBCs to develop “climate-sensitive River Basin Master Plans”, that include adaptation to climate change and EbA as guiding principles.

The CDP focuses on two main aspects: capacity building on (1) Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessments and integrating the EbA planning cycle in the RBMP development and (2) “Management and Planning Process Facilitation” which aims to strengthen the management and communication know-how and skills for key stakeholders in the RBMP process based on a participatory approach.

To maintain and extend this know-how, the CDP also supports the development of a trainer/facilitator pool and Training-of-Trainer activities that strengthen key skill sets in the RBMP development.

Mainstreaming climate change adaptation (CCA) and EbA into water policies and plans is central for climate resilience in the Thai water sector. The key to this was the strengthening of inter-agency cooperation between ONWR and ONEP, the lead agencies on water and on climate change. Efforts to enhance mainstreaming and cross-sectoral cooperation included:

• Enhancing understanding on Thailand’s climate policy framework as well as on the topic of CCA in the water sector as a basis for EbA through policy dialogues and informal exchanges between ONEP and ONWR as well as with water-related agencies.
• Developing a rapid self-assessment tool (‘5 Dimension Framework’) to help water policy makers identify current levels and possible areas for further mainstreaming of CCA and EbA. 
• Developing policy recommendations in a policy brief series to enhance understanding of the needs and benefits of integrating adaptation in the water sector and making EbA as an essential pillar for sustainable and climate-sensitive water management.

Developing a national guideline for the development of climate-sensitive River Basin Master Plans (RBMPs) integrating climate change aspects including EbA, Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E), and climate finance options into the planning process that takes place in 5-year intervals in Thailand’s 22 river basins.

This block focuses on the development of a tourism development and promotion plan, with an emphasis on the involvement of local communities.

To ensure harmonious tourism development in line with international standards, OIPR has engaged the services of a South African consultancy firm to help it draw up, among other things, a tourism development plan and a business plan. To date, tourism promotion has been supported by the setting of an incentive price scale for visits and the provision of information and communication media.

Through the local NGO "Vision Verte", commissioned by OIPR to handle ticketing and guiding within the park, guides are recruited from the local population and trained in guiding techniques. Vision Verte is on hand at the park entrances to check visitors in and collect entrance fees. In addition, certain maintenance activities in the park, such as windfall removal, are entrusted to the NGO, which is required to recruit local people for the various jobs.

Obtaining funding does not always guarantee that results will be achieved. To implement the various projects, in particular the BIOPAMA grant, it was necessary to identify service providers capable of carrying out the work and meeting the delivery deadlines set out in the proformas. As the PNB did not have the capacity to carry out the work of rehabilitating and equipping the ecomuseum, it had to outsource these services. In this respect, monitoring proved to be essential, in order to guide the service providers at all times and remove any bottlenecks.

Translocated loon chicks are raised in specially designed aquatic pens until they are old enough to feed on their own (9-10 weeks old).

Using traditional nighttime techniques, BRI researchers captured chicks 5-8 weeks old from source lakes. Once chicks are in hand, a BRI attending veterinarian performs a physical examination and administers fluids to prevent dehydration during transport. 

Community support and involvement in the project was critically important to its success.  The restoration project was a key feature of the draft Plan of Management and received strong positive support during community consultation. During the development of the project, managers consulted with local organisations including Aboriginal Elders and communities, the Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and seabird scientists. 

Volunteers and the community were instrumental in helping overcome logistical challenges such as replanting thousands of native seedlings.  Diverse organisations offered to help including local community members, local school students, Charles Sturt University undergraduate students and ecotour participants.

Interest in the island has expanded and the island is now an iconic tourist destination. Visitors join a NPWS ranger or trained volunteer on an education tour to learn about the island, its wildlife and history. In addition to supporting a thriving tour boat industry, educational tourism creates a greater awareness of the conservation value of the island, its unique wildlife and its value to the local community. 

Eradicating pests and controlling invasive weeds on a large offshore island requires a commitment of significant resources over a long time to ensure 100% success and support ongoing management and monitoring. Otherwise the pests and weeds would simply regenerate. The length of the project, the number of staff with specialist expertise and types of equipment required e.g. helicopters and boats meant that the project was expensive. Therefore, sustained funding over the life of the project was needed to complete the project in stages. This was critical to the success of the project.  After a three-year pilot project started in 2001 to identify the best method for restoration, full implementation began in 2004 with the support of NPWS, Charles Sturt University and external funding from the NSW Environmental Trust of $200,000 over four years.