Khao Yai Experiences
Stories from Thailand’s World Heritage ParkArchive for Education
Planting seeds for the next generation of conservationists
More than 100 students attended a three-day youth camp at Khao Yai last month to learn about the forest, wildlife, and the importance of nature conservation.
The camp kicked off on Thailand’s National Forest Conservation Day (Jan 14) with fun educational activities, such as hiking, bird watching and identifying animal tracks, all organized by Khao Yai and FREELAND staff.
Students also learned about poaching threats to Khao Yai’s wildlife, and ongoing efforts by rangers, conservation groups and other supporters to protect the park.
With six local schools involved, many new friendships were formed as students pitched tents, sung folk songs and put on campfire theatre shows about what they’d learned.
On the final day, students helped plant 3,000 trees donated by Leschaco (Thailand), as part of ongoing efforts to reforest an area of the park cleared by human encroachment.
With continued support for conservation, these students will someday be able to revisit their trees in a restored part of the forest complex providing habitat for diverse species of wildlife again.
Mushroom experts help local community and forest
Organic mushroom farming is a great way for villages around Khao Yai to make a living, as an alternative to cutting trees or poaching wildlife from the park.
Last month, FREELAND brought in a group of experts from the Phra Dabos Foundation’s Mushroom Cultivation in Sufficiency Agriculture Program to help Kok Sa-ard Village, just north of Khao Yai, further increase productivity and markets for its small-scale mushroom growing enterprises, set up with FREELAND’s help.
21 villagers participated in the three-day training, which covered everything from the basics of mass mushroom pack preparation, through to natural preservation methods to create ready-to-eat snack products and extend the shelf-life of produce.
Trainers also explained how to recycle materials to eliminate waste; and provided advice on dealing with changes in climate, such as the current cold snap.
Boonlert Thaitatkul, the lead instructor from Phra Dabos with over 35 years experience in mushroom cultivation, provided villagers with design plans and supervised the first stages of construction of an improved model cultivation house.
As this new knowledge is shared, it is hoped that low-impact organic agriculture will become an even more attractive option for villages on the edges of Khao Yai, ensuring a more sustainable and harmonious relationship with the forest.
FREELAND thanks the Phra Dabos Foundation for their time and expertise, and the Blue Moon Fund for making this training and the projects possible.
Restoring habitat and fighting global warming
Last week, 3,000 trees were planted as part of ongoing efforts to regenerate a deforested area at the edge of Khao Yai National Park.
More than 100 students from six local schools helped plant trees covering 10 rai of land, on a reforestation day sponsored by Leschaco (Thailand). Leschaco staff joined the students, FREELAND and Khao Yai rangers to get their hands dirty planting saplings grown by nearby village communities.
FREELAND thanks all the student volunteers and Leschaco for their ‘hands-on’ contribution restoring habitat for Khao Yai’s wildlife and helping the fight against global warming.
If you would like to support our next reforestation day, please contact FREELAND.
Hornbills win hearts and minds
Junior Thai bird enthusiasts transformed into hornbills at FREELAND’s education booth for the Bird Conservation Society of Thailand’s Free the Birds event in Bangkok’s Railway Park.
Over a sunny weekend last month, staff helped children construct their own beaks and learn about Hornbill behaviour. Parents also got involved – learning about threats to the species from climate change and the exotic pet trade.
Visitors to the booth purchased mushroom packs from FREELAND’s Khao Yai community outreach projects to grow organically at home. FREELAND’s outreach projects provide sustainable livelihood alternatives to poaching.
The Bird Conservation Society of Thailand runs bird watching trips to Khao Yai for young and old (next trip scheduled for December 21). See their website for details and other great resources on Thailand’s amazing bird life.
Learning about conservation the fun way at Khao Yai
More than 1,000 local students kept FREELAND’s Khao Yai Education Outreach Team busy between July and September.
With the help of a teaching kit donated by the Point Defiance Zoo, groups of students learned about the biology and behaviour of big cats, such as clouded leopards and tigers. The importance of wildlife and habitat conservation was emphasized through songs and games.
For those who couldn’t trade their classroom for the expansive forests of Khao Yai, FREELAND’s Mobile Education Unit was also on the road.
FREELAND thanks Point Defiance Zoo for helping to educate the next generation of Thai nature lovers.
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Khao Yai Sustainable Visitor's Guide (PDF 275kb)