Local | PANORAMA

Support with scientific information

Strengthen community decision-making based on scientific evidence.
Share our empirical/traditional knowledge with academic-scientific knowledge, generating synergies for conservation and sustainable development.
This is achieved through coordination with authorities, research centers, and scientists who recognize the empirical knowledge of fishermen, as well as through adequate regional governance that positions FEPACOIBA as a representative organization of the region that defends the proper management of its resources.

Willingness on the part of fishermen to provide data on landings, species caught, catch locations, etc.
Adequacy of collection centers in coastal communities to facilitate monitoring and recording information.
Inter-institutional collaboration, such as partnerships with universities, research centers, SENACYT, MarViva, ARAP, and ATP.

Interaction between science and the community builds trust and improves marine governance.
Ecological characterization of sites helps avoid negative impacts and promotes ecotourism.
Dissemination and socialization of research results on fish reproductive aggregations, climate change impacts, marine habitat characterization, and others generates empathy and raises awareness of the importance of data and the importance of protecting marine biodiversity and ensuring resilience.

Documentation and dissemination of results

Continuous training

This consists of raising awareness among the artisanal fishing sector and tourism service providers on environmental issues such as biodiversity loss and climate change, empowering them to become multipliers of good practices.

The methodology is participatory, with local fishermen and tourism service providers taking the lead in learning, hand in hand with governmental and non-governmental institutions.

Citizen availability and interest in conservation.
Public and private entities willing to provide the necessary training and support to local communities.
Support from international donors.
Teamwork and collective decision-making.

Recognize the value of organization and partnership in accessing projects and funding that strengthen good practices and provide sustainability to initiatives.
It is essential to broaden recognition of the impact of our actions on coastal marine ecosystems.

Implementation

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Community-centered approach focused on ownership and skills development for current and future generations

Students at local school where activities took place

UNDP Thailand

In addition to the cash-for-work program, local community organizations were established that organize joint activities and serve as a platform for collaboration between the Koh Tao Municipality and locals. Five community organizations were established: Koh Tao Fisherfolk group; Sairee Taxi Boat Group; Mae Haad Taxi Boat Group; Koh Tao Women Group; and Koh Tao Youth Group.

The communities received training on the implementation of biodiversity finance solutions, financial and digital literacy, and other skills such as fish processing and T-shirt tie-dying. Locals started using community organizations to coordinate clean-ups and committed to continue working on marine debris removal and beach cleaning.

As part of the cash-for-work program, boat drivers were also trained in waste segregation. After the program they submitted a proposal for the Koh Tao Sub-district Municipality to establish waste separation bins in their tourist boats.

Moreover, KTB promoted activities for the students at Baan Koh Tao School focused on financial literacy, inclusion, and knowledge management. A small-scale studio for Koh Tao Kids Channel (TaoNoi Channel) was set up to create knowledge content for students. KTB also financially supported fisherfolks in acquiring fish aggregating devices.

Willingness of locals to participate, pre-existing identification in groups that serve as the foundation for the formation of the community organizations (i.e., fishers, boat drivers, etc.), human and financial resources for the formation of the organizations, and willingness of the local government to engage with the organizations.

Strengthening the sense of ownership and addressing the specific needs and skills gap of each subgroup within the target population has been critical in establishing community organizations. By getting organized into formal associations, local communities gain strategic entry point to engage with the local government and other organizations.. The submission of a proposal for the Koh Tao Sub-district Municipality to fund the establishment of bins for waste separation is a clear example of that.

In addition, it has facilitated collaboration between different groups. For example, it helped find a solution among diving and fisher folk groups by zoning marine areas in partnership with the local government. The diving group also engaged in the marine debris collection, playing an important role in it.

Implementation

Local

Cash-for-work program to link financial assistance with positive environmental outcomes

The picture shows four men in a beach cleaning activity.

Participants in beach cleaning activity

UNDP Thailand

The crowdfunding campaign raised resources to provide cash transfers to taxi boat and small fishing boat drivers, who were identified as one of the most vulnerable groups due to the COVID-19 pandemic (for more information, please refer to building block 1). To achieve this, a cash-for-work program was established, in which temporary cash transfers are conditional on the provision of labor for the corresponding period. The boat drivers were hired for three months to clean beaches, collect marine debris, recycle the waste collected, and mobilize the local community for biodiversity conservation.

In this way, the campaign not only contributed to the livelihoods of boat drivers during the pandemic, but also increased their awareness of, and engagement with, biodiversity loss caused by unsustainable practices. These engagements strengthened a sense of ownership among locals towards the campaign and their own island, serving as an additional motivation for conservation and restoration, fostering behavior change after the cash-for-work program ended.

Willingness of locals to engage in the work, along with effective communication campaigns to increase mobilization of those participating in the cash-for-work program and for biodiversity conservation.

Cash-for-work programs have the potential to provide incentives for behavior change with long-term impacts by combining much-needed financial support with awareness raising and skill building efforts. These programs also uphold the agency of participants, who engage in meaningful work in exchange for income.

Technology and innovation to create digital platforms that are accessible and tailored to local needs

The image shows campaign participants at the beach, in Koh Tao, with boats in the background. They are holding a sign of the campaign.

Koh Tao, Better Together and Krungthai Bank

Krungthai Bank

Krungthai Bank (KTB), a key partner in the "Koh Tao Better Together" crowdfunding campaign, developed an easy-to-use electronic donation platform integrated with the Thai tax system. The bank's innovation lab offered to create the e-donation platform. Through a QR code, Thai citizens were able to make donations in a quick, transparent, and verifiable way. The platform allows Thai donors to automatically send their donation information to the Revenue Department for tax deduction. UNDP also designed another e-donation platform for international donors.

KTB acted as the initial donor of the campaign, contributing 30% of the fundraising target. Furthermore, the bank committed to covering the remaining donations if the target was not met, which was unnecessary thanks to the success of the campaign.

Additionally, KTB provided trainings on digital financial services to boat drivers.

The key enabling factor is the establishment of effective public-private partnerships to leverage the expertise of each stakeholder. By combining BIOFIN's financial expertise, KTB's innovation, Raks Thai Foundation's experience in engaging local communities, and the government's role in overseeing financial services, it was possible to develop and disseminate an appropriate e-donation platform and run the campaign.

Another relevant condition is effective communication strategies to increase public awareness of, and access to, the e-donation platform.

It is imperative to promote partnerships and multisector engagement to address global and local challenges that are multidisciplinary by nature, from financial constraints amid a global health crisis to biodiversity and ecosystem degradation.

Moreover, it is crucial to develop solutions that reflect advancements in innovation and digitalization. When well-designed, digital tools have the potential to reach a large number of individuals (i.e., surpassing the fundraising target) and simplify processes (i.e., connecting the e-donation platform with the tax system). Equal importance must be given to the training of locals on these digital tools, enabling just and equitable access.

"Koh Tao Better Together" page on Krungthai Bank's website.

Data-driven and evidence-based design for effective crowdfunding strategies

UNDP Thailand conducted a socio-economic impact assessment of COVID-19 on Koh Tao's tourism sector. Using pre-pandemic data and information from locals, the study concluded that small tourist boat drivers are amongst the most affected and most vulnerable segment of the population due to the complete dependence on tourism. The study estimated the minimum living cost of USD 500 (THB 15,000) for individual households in Koh Tao and found that 90% of them received almost no income since the beginning of the pandemic. The study served as the foundation for the campaign, enabling the estimation of a baseline, making sure that the solution addresses the most vulnerable groups and provides an income that can, at least, alleviate sustenance needs. The campaign was also designed with the support from UNDP's Crowdfunding Academy, with expertise in this area.

Enabling conditions include the availability of socioeconomic data prior to the event (in this case, the COVID-19 pandemic) or the ability to collect data from relevant stakeholders before designing the crowdfunding campaign. Another enabling condition is having the technical capacity or necessary support to translate existing data and studies into the design of a project/program.

The importance of designing programs and projects based on data and well-conducted studies, ensuring that the project effectively meets the needs of participants. Beyond supporting the design of the crowdfunding campaign, the impact assessment of COVID-19 on Koh Tao revealed how, on the one hand, local livelihoods became vulnerable without tourism and, on the other hand, the pause in visitor activity allowed nature to recover. Therefore, the crowdfunding campaign — and the COVID-19 impact assessment — were the entry point for rethinking a more sustainable future for tourism on the island.

Data-driven and evidence-based design for effective crowdfunding strategies

Industrial Transformation of Cycad Yam

The transition from scattered planting by individual villagers to the establishment of a large-scale industry spanning approximately 500 mu (about 33.33 hectares).

Rural revitalization policies and advanced breeding technologies.

Market promotion and quality control, as well as the impact of diseases and pests on the growth of Cycad Yam.

Entirety

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Introduction and Cultivation of Cycad Yam

Cycad Yam was introduced to Geliping Village, located just outside the reserve's red line. The Protection Center provided germplasm resources and technical support, guiding local villagers in standardized breeding and sustainable planting practices.

Soil conditions suitable for the growth of Cycad Yam and the selection of Cycad Yam germplasm resources.

Non-standard field management during the planting process, inadequate measures for trellis erection to guide vine growth, and insufficient control of excessive growth.

Entirety

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Integrated Management Platform

Integrated and upgraded plant archives, video surveillance, environmental monitoring, data visualization, and patrol monitoring management systems into the “Smart Cycad Integrated Information Management Platform”, creating an intelligent and informatized management system comprising “one set of archives, three platforms, and five systems”.

(1) Demand for digital transformation; (2) Support from technological advancements.

(1) Data security protection; (2) Operation and maintenance support.

Entirety

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