Yonok Wetlands

Amazing Thailand

Yonok Wetlands HQ.

Wat Ba Mak No - Pra Audta Jaruwanno

With little fuss we were quietly awarded premisis for the Head Quarters of Yonok Wetkands today (15th November 2007) by Abbot; Pra Audta Jaruwanno.

This is a great honor for us: Thank you for your trust.

Game Set and Match - Update 17th november 2007

Yonok Wetlands Project has made enormous strides this week: On wednesday afternoon we arrived at Wat Ba Mak No, to count the Harrier roost. We saw a lone Monk, Pra Tadon, he was constructing a Tower Observation Platform for us to count the Harriers.

Pra Tadon : Cut all the bamboo supports himself from the Temple woodland. It took him 2 days to dig out the holes for the uprights (weighing 130kg), with only a bamboo pole for a tool. He also carried much of the load himself to the site. This Man quietly and alone got on with this work. He had told us off his plans, some time ago, however: we were surprised to discovered this amazing feat of endurance.

It was just a week ago when we last saw him. He had just put out a fire in the Harrier roost with his bare feet, helped by a local fisherman who is sympathetic to our cause. Pra Tadon explained that he had hurt his back in lifting the bamboo, he had cut, but we had no idea he was working alone.

On the Thursday we arrived to lend a hand. Several men from the local village had come along to work on the construction and we spent the day with them. Dowroong worked with them and talked about the wetland and it's birds. We developed a friendly atmosphere and was a most pleasant and productive day.

In the afternoon we received a gift of a School building ( a small Temple with many Buddhist Statues) we also have be given use of a bungalow as an office and resting place. This fantastic gesture was made by Abbott Pra Audta Jaruwanno. The Temple of Wat Ba Mak No is now firmly established as the Head Quarters of the Yonok Wetlands Project.

Friday: again we went to Ba Mak No to lend a hand, the villagers told her how much they liked our ideas and had talked matters and they're is a general agreement that the Yonok becomes a Non Hunting area and further more the area between, Wat Ba Mak No and Wat Yonok will be a non fishing and conservation area for fish to breed. This is an amazing development and brought about by Dowroong's ability to speak with people in a friendly way and given the chance to explain how much better villagers will be if a agreement for the benefit of all can be looked after by our project. That is the way forward, we will do our best to protect the interest of all and allow the birds to return. I have noticed this week that Whistling Duck have been feeding close to the causeway as we flush them on our way home.

We estimate that about 70% of Yonok is now in agreement for conservation of wildlife. The buffalo camp people are also part of the village community and I believe are also in agreement, as on my travels around Yonok, where I formally saw people with long rifles, I have not found any direct evidence of hunting. Last night we camped out and no shots were heard and no lampers were seen.

Saturday; is school day,the children and Mr Jamnong who drives them to school helped in preparing the New School House. Everyone was very happy with our new school building. After lunch we moved to our afternoon teaching location at Wat Yonok. A very busy week for us.

The Yonok Wetlands project is just six months old. We have achieve so much, in this short time, it's hard to remember everything that has happened. I will try to list her the most important events.

1: We have got rid of around 90 mists nets from 10 sites. Two new sites have been found and have been removed.

2; Mr Suriya and the Nong Bong Kai NHA staff are ready to deal with any hunting occurrence we find.

7: Part of the deep water wetland will be given over to the conservation of fish.

8; A cottage industry will be developed at Wat Ba Mak No, for elderly villagers to help them to earn some money and create a community spirit.

9: Ba Mak No will be the a Temple that will host the Yonok Wetlands Project. Here we will create a Temple of Meditation, Conservation and Bird watching. We will also encourage visiting biologist to stay and carry out studies vital to the future of Yonok.

10: The project has received a lot of interest from various people and Organization: BCST, RSPB and KOS. Dave Gandy, Dr Mong, John Roberts, Phil Round and Nick Upton are all ornithologist who have given support to this project.

11: Donations: Regrettably this has been the most difficult issue for us. We have only received 6000 baht, less than a hundred pounds. And so everything that needs paying for comes out of our own pockets. As a Farang I cannot work in Thailand and so our running cost have to come out of our own savings. I would like to mention the name of my UK Bank, ? & ? incompetence is too kinder word.

Please have a look at this weeks pictures and Bird records. More Pics added soon.

Key of the Door: A Temple School room and a office - The New Headquarters of Yonok Wetlands Project. A presant from Abbott: Pra Audta Jaruwanno and the Monks of Wat Ba Mak No. Pra Pardon, Pra Tadon, Pra Pasen, Ajan Sane.

Celebrating the building of the straw Buddaha. This remarkable Statue was constructed entirely from grass. Detialed photographs are on view at the Temple of Wat Ba Mak No - visitors are most welcome.