Yonok Wetlands, Diary of Birdwatching and Conservation in Northern Thailand.

The Diary is as much for me as for the reader. We are now having to spend a great deal of time on field discussions and I find it difficult to keep up with righting all this up on the web site. The diary lists events and the more important or interesting can be written up later.

Jeremy Richardson, Raywadee Roachanakana (assiant Dean Mahidol University), Jaio X1, Dr Looijen and Jorgen Eriksson.

Core Envioroment Program for The Asian Development Bank – Meet with Yonok Wetlands project on Saturday 12th April 2008.

Discussion over the effect of the planed super highway to China at Chiang Klong and the effect of transportation and devoplment of the mekong Basin. Considerations on wildlife and conservation and the high movement of people into Thailand.
I must say that we are thrilled that our project is being taken seriously. The ADB group spent four hours with us in the afternoon.

They are looking into a variety of ways to help Yonok Wetlands Project. Voluteer teachers will be a priority.

11th April 2008; Dowroong's woman conservation group spent the afternoon at Rajabhat University Chiang Rai.

The intention was to gain some ideas for the village in the making of handy craft products. Dowroong and her group were had a most interesting afternoon.

Woman Conservation

Yonok Wetlands Project

Wat Pa Mak No

Founding Group

Huai Nam Rak branch

The tenacious Grass Owl despite all odds still survives at Yonok the only know area where the species breeds here in Thailand.

Sadly all of the three main sites for the species have been set on fire this year. It seems so selfish that one person can do so much damage. The reason wasp lave and they burn out the nests. These people have now consideration for the Wetland and the fires often cause damage to legitimate farmers crops. Their is no thought at all to make fire breaks and these fires run unchecked, destroying manny trees and orchards.

This is not n they’re land, is it not time for some proper control over land that is a natural heritage for us all and not for some greed stricken individual.

This guy is a wasp nest hunter, you can tell this easily as he is dressed in old clothes and has binoculars. We have encountered a number of such people in the last year.
This guy said he was not responsible for the fire. He has now been recruited by Dowroong as a sort of warden patrol. We did find the culprits and this issue will have to be dealt with by Dowroong. We have a friend who lives at the roost, he told that several men from Ban _? Set fire after picking water grass for sale in order to regenerate. Our friend is an old man and could do nothing to stop them. Earlier this year the same old man and a monk Pra Parden managed to stamp out that fire.

We were informed of the fire and we telephone the police and fire station, however they did not attend the fire. It would have been very difficult to put and raged for several. Luck was on our side as the light wind kept the fire localized.

The following evening we counted the harrier roost at the burnt out site. The Harriers were unaffected and about 50 were roosting.

Two Grass Owls were seen, not calling! They should have young now. However I think I could here young calling. The call is similar to a frog or insect and I vaguely remember a similar call when I found the young at the Little England site last year. (Sadly these birds were shot) Dowroong spotted a second Grass Owl and the unfamiliar call seemed to be coming from the bird as it flew in the night and so there is hope.

So urgent is this matter that I have decided to pay myself in the interim. The BCST are in support and I believe they will act quickly. We all have limited funds. Khun Kritsana of the BCST will visit Little England next week.

Mr Samart is the Land Manager of the Little England Valley. A decision by the local land owner to cultivate the valley is sad news for this amazing area. Thai Government law is quite clear on unused land we are told by Mr Samart. If the land is not cultivated then it will be taken back into government hands. So it seems that the Land Owner has little choice, convert to agriculture or loose the land.

Dowroong (YWP) approached Mr Samart and put a very strong case for saving the Wetland.

Mr Samart is keen to help. He had seen the Grass Owls here two years ago, Asian Hare and Porcupine are also to be seen in the Wetland boundary.

Mr Samart explained that although the land will be given freely he requires that the local people gain benefit from the project and that some money has to be made available for working. The provision of fencing and signs is necessary he feels to keep hunters, fire raisers and farm animals out.

This is a start. Dowroong and Mr Samart, hope to extend the Land Area to included some Hills and forest. with our influence (Yonok W P) it is hoped we can get a beneficial approach to conservation with the community. Khun Kritsana (BCST) is very much in agreement and so a start has been made. At 0830 this morning (18 March 2008) we telephoned Mr Samart and agreed a deal.

We don't need a great deal of money to run this project. Less than most people in England earn in a year. I have not eared any money in Thailand for seven years. I cant 't afford it! However i will not wait around and see it all destroyed and so I will pay in the interim and hope for outside help and sponsorship.

There is much work to do. With the advance of agriculture we now have the problem of hill farmers who kill and burn. Just this afternoon while talking to Mr Samart a farmer carrying a hunting rifle (I had got all the hunters out, and I had not seen a gun for 10 months), before I relished what he was up to he set fire to bamboo on the proposed project land. They had been asked not to set any fires. The guy explained that there was a snake in the bamboo and he wanted to eat it. Quite appalling that an individual can destroy life in this way. One wonders what was left of the snake having set fire to a ten year old bamboo. The noise of the fire was likened to being amidst a military firing range.

A quick word on fires. Thousands of small to large fires have recently been set in the Chiang Saen Area. The result is massive smoke pollution. The afternoon air quality is so bad that we leave town.

Direct action taken by Dowroong & Mick has averted this tragedy. So powerful was Dowroong's persuasion that the owner has given over the land to Yonok Wetlands Project for future safe keeping.

Little England is home to Grass Owls Thailand's first breeding pair ended in disaster just 10 months ago, when two of the young were shot dead. Seems they're death was not in vein. Full details soon

Dowroong and New Friends will work for the Little England Wetland Bog. A sanctuary for Owls and Harriers.

Do you think there will be any remains for you to eat given the intensity of the fire.

I like to see the snakes alive as this area has been set aside for nature. The Bamboo was ten years old and you have destroyed it. I had hoped to make this area beautiful for all to see. I also noticed that you have a shotgun, this is a “non hunting area”.

The left picture shows the extensive damage to Little England Wetland bog. The map is of the land plots for rent at Little England. The fire just one of a thousand set in the Chiang Saen Area during March and April 2008. Most burning is at night and I have to wonder how and what tourists to this area of the Golden Triangle think when they see this mess of burnt out areas and trees.

Dowroong and Mick were pleased to be invited to a small party at the The Royal Project village located a few kilometers from Little England

BCST & Yonok will have to work closely together to secure a future of the so called Chiang Saen basin.

Yonok Wetland Project - Bird Conservation Society of Thailand - Lanna Bird Group - Rajabhat University.

The meeting was chaired by Gawin (BCST) with major contributions from Dowroong Danlamajak who was encouraged by Dr Mong (BCST and Lanna Bird group). The talks were favorable and several good working relationships were cemented, with Nong Bong Kai in particular.

The proposed Dam at Yonok North went ahead last wednesday 2nd April 2008 we were told there was no problem (R Uni) (yes we do point the finger on this web site) with this project.

We owe I believe debt of gratitude to Khun Jamrouan of Tung Far Ham; and going out to tell them to clear off! as the Yonok serves other village interests. Thank you.

The question of water levels in the Chiang Saen basin is a matter for serious thought for us, the BCST and Nong Bong kai; We really need to sit down and discuss how the water can be used to everyone's advantage.

It seems to me they're is plenty and so I don't see why it is proposed to raise the water levels higher on Chiang Saen lake next year.

Yonok dose seem to have benefited this year from higher water levels that usual.

We were thrilled to meet with Gernod and Naimer Broding and show them our work at Yonok. Hopefully our future is looking bright.

We welcomed the director of the ISV (International Student Volunteer Group) Ms Narrel and Project manager Kieran who we have been working closely with, to provide Home stay opportunity for Tung Far Ham. The first group of students will arrive in May 2008.

The pressure of hunter gathers and fisherman in Yonok Wetlands probably got the better of the Terns. The illegal activity of electric probes for killing and every thing else was stopped in Yonok. Unfortunately too late for the Terns. I really do wonder how anything breeds successfully with so many people treading mud and water.

Inevitably we have to look at restricting some areas, that’s going to be hard'

The Illegal use of Electric Probes was finally and with amazing success ended in Yonok a few days ago.

Hunters equipped with portable battery pack & probes

40 have been chased out and three arrests were made by the Chiang Saen River Police in a determined effort to stamp this out. More on this story later.

HELP – Volunteer. – I need a proof reader who can work for free. Just to tidy up my righting.