the area, as well as encourage the sustainable use of natural resources; raise public awareness; and coordinate with the Upper Part of Thailand Inner Gulf Conservation Network. The local fishermen network committees are composed of 13 conservation groups across six provinces. The conservation groups involved are the committees in the regional and national levels of the Part of Inner Gulf of Thailand Solution Sub-committee. The sub-committee aims to encourage and empower the local communities for sustainable management of marine and coastal resources, as well as lobby for support from the relevant government agencies to strengthen local management and sustainable use. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources Center and the Chumchonthai Foundation (CTF) support the process of establishing and empowering groups from the local and national levels. The ESDC is the main coordinator for Phetchaburi province. One of the main strengths of the conservation groups is the active participation of local fishermen who are well aware of the problems related to coastal and marine resources. Every month, they organize a meeting to find the best solutions to these problems. Furthermore, they provide a platform where local voices can be recognized, heard and respected. They also provide a clear link between local and national policy levels, enabling information to be effectively communicated in both directions. This helps significantly in solving the problems of coastal erosion and illegal equipment, and the drafting and editing of the Act of Parliament on coastal and marine resource, and many others. Since the majority of daily coastal management work takes place at the local government level, the ongoing executive functions of the Sub-district Administrative Organization, municipalities, district councils and traditional leadership structures should include natural resource management. This conservation group has an advisory board composed of the Chief of Cha-am District, the Mayor of Cha-am Municipality, the Head of Marine and Coastal Resource Conservation Center, Chumchonthai Foundation, and the Chairman of the Committee Network of the upper part of inner gulf in Thailand. 34 THE ASIA REGIONAL FORUM ON BIODIVERSITY Figure 5. Meeting of the Conservation of Fishery and Coastal Resources in Phetchaburi Province Group. Figure 6. Conservation Groups in six provinces as regional Level of Conservation of Fishery and Coastal Resources. The network, which started in 2011, had its first meeting on 18 to 20 January 2011. The meeting solicited the cooperation of the heads of local fishermen in each province and planned their strategy in strengthening marine and coastal resources and finding sustainable solutions to problems. Furthermore, linkages were fostered among the provincial level through the six provinces and the national level composed of the representatives from the network at the regional level. The sub-committee for resolution of upper part of inner gulf of Thailand is headed by its president, the Assistant Manager of the Office of the Prime Minister. The representatives from the regional level are the committees of marine and coastal resources management for sustainability which has the Director General of Department of Marine and Coastal Resources as president. The effort to establish and empower groups from the local level to the national level is supported by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources Center and Chumchonthai Foudation (CTF). ESDC is the main coordinator for Phetchaburi province.
In Celebration of His Majesty the King of Thailand’s 84th Birthday Anniversary
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