Banana leaves in fall - UHDP organic farm, Fang.
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Oceans

ACADEMIC FIELDS:

  • Geography/Ecology

ACTIVITIES:

  • Transects of island resources
  • On-site studies of traditional foraging sites
  • Extensive studies of reef and coral ecology
  • Field research in mangrove and seagrass areas
  • Snorkeling and skin-diving
  • Sea kayaking
  • Island and ocean navigation
  • Work with local people on understanding local knowledge and concepts related to fish and fishing
  • Coastal ethnography

TRAVEL:

  • Sea kayaking between islands in the archipelago
  • Island and mangrove transects
  • Bus or train to coast
  • Ferry out to archipelago

HOUSING:

  • Extensive beach/island camping
  • Homestays in Muslim fishing village

LOCATION:

  • Adang Archipelago, Satun Province
  • Hat Chao Mai, Trang Province

SYLLABUS:

Culture and Ecology of the Andaman

Islands, Reefs and Mangroves

This course focuses on the coastal communities and islands of the Andaman Sea, Southern Thailand. This course examines two ecologically important areas — the coast of Trang and the Adang Archipelago — focusing on reef ecosystems, mangroves, seagrasses, and the human communities that depend on them for their survival.  Both the physical and cultural environments are challenging—over a week of travel will be by sea kayak, and half of the course will be in a small Southern Thai fishing village. By the end of the course, students will have an understanding of the major issues surrounding coastal ecology and culture, with experience in and understanding of coral reefs, mangroves, sea grasses and tidal areas; as well as understand the unique challenges and struggles of the human communities that live in the coastal zone — the semi-nomadic Urak Lawoi and Southern Thai Muslim fisherfolk.  These cases represents a complex situation of multiple and often conflicting resource uses in the coastal ecosystem and rapidly changing ways of life for the coastal and island people.

Learning outcomes

  • Understanding of the key issues concerning the sustainability of island and coastal environments and cultures
  • Understanding the biological processes within marine ecosystems with particular knowledge of significant fish, reef and coral ecology
  • Understanding of local knowledge related to fish and fishing as well as understanding of the links between local culture and marine resource utilization
  • Understanding of the social dynamics related to marine ecology and island resource conservation and development (e.g. ethnic culture, tourism, commercial fishing, national park conservation)
  • Ability to successfully carry out the essential technical skills related to the studies of marine ecology, including sea kayaking and skin-diving
  • Geographical field survey methods, especially as related to marine ecology and island environments
  • Comparative field marine biology survey methods for coral reefs, mangroves and sea grasses
  • Sociological survey methods, including competency in community-level surveys of stakeholders (e.g. resort owners, tourists, park officials, and local fishermen)
  • Understanding socioeconomic as well as cultural adaptations within the coastal environment, while factoring in exposition to outside forces
  • Proficiency with the tools of field research and expedition skills such as using a GPS during kayaking and island survey
  • Proficiency in marine/island navigation, including use of tide charts, GPS and related skills
  • Ability to identify significant reef species (vertebrates and invertebrates) and corals