Yonok Wetlands

Yonok

Wetlands

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The work of the Yonok Wetlands (Project) Conservation initiative is as detailed below.

1; As a Buddhist; and Thailand is a 95% Buddhist Country of the true persuasion, that it is wholly wrong to kill "All Living Creatures"

2; Working in a National Park or Wild life Sanctuary; Requires a sense of duty and responsibility to Wildlife.

3; Thailand has clearly defined laws on Hunting and damage to habitat. It is important that we all respect our King and Country.

4; Common problems are; trapping, shooting, burning, habitat destruction; either by land drainage or ill conceived projects. These problems can only be dealt with by community awareness. We work with local communities; Schools, Temples and Villagers to educate and remind.

5; Community development; Working with the villages of Tung Far Ham and Huai Nam Rak we have provided free English lessons for children and Monks. Negotiated a Home stay Conservation Project. We will provide a small amount of construction work by the making of "Non hunting signs" Nesting platform rafts, nesting boxes and tree planting. All this will cost! Please donate.

We also try to help children by raising they're self esteem and learning potential by advising on working in conservation, this could be linked to tourism and guiding.

5; Promoted Buddhism; We have been instrumental in helping Yonok North to be a strong Buddhist domain. They're are now three Temples in Yonok North. Our Two Temple teaching schools. A birding tower hide and a floating hide. Simple and basic accommodation is available at Wat Yonok for meditation and project volunteers. For details see contacts.

The Yonok was sadly overlooked when Chiang Sean Lake was declared a Non Hunting Area and made one of the Ramsar Convention sites.

This was a gross error as Yonok is about Ten times the size of CSL. Yonok remains in parts an impenetrable wilderness. Formally Yonok was reported to have millions of birds, as little as 20 years ago. This tragedy of neglect has resulted in a wetland with low population of water birds. however the Wetland survives mostly intact. We can restore Yonok to it's past glory or at least go some way towards that goal.

The discovery of Yonok and it's wildlife was a result of our interest in Harrier Roosts. Dowroong and I discovered the Little England roost back in 2001. (We were absent from this area between 2001-2004 See ISLAND BIRD & MIGRATION Study area:)

In mid december 2005 we noticed a few Harriers moving in the direction of Yonok. This lead us to find 3-4 new roosts in Yonok, with peak counts in mid winter of about 650. This is the largest Known roost in the World for Pied and Eastern Marsh Harrier. Something to be proud off and a site well worth seeing. More memorable than just a few ticks.

Yonok and Little England are the only know sites for breeding Grass Owl in Thailand and we have identified 4-7 sites.

Yonok contains a number off interesting Wetland Birds; White-browed Crake is a recent colonist and breeds. Bitters, Crakes, Jacanas and Herons are well represent, albeit in small numbers.

Most notable is the River Tern; extinct in Thailand as a breeding species; 1-2 were found in summer 2007 and again 1-2 winter 2007-8. The latest individual is extremely territorial and this has lead us to consider constructing some floating Nesting platforms (see working with the community).

Through our work with; Abbots and Monks off the three Yonok (North) Temples, Local heads and villagers, fishermen, trappers, buffalo herdsmen and people interested in conserving wildlife and habitat. We have now established a good relationship with the local community.

Further; The Yonok Wetlands Web site has focused attention on Yonok and through discussion with messers Phil Round and Dr Mong (BCST Bird Conservation Society of Thailand) and Ian Barber (RSPB Royal Society for Protection of Birds) we have brought attention to Yonok, with a number of people and groups excited in this conservation project. This has resulted in the BCST awarding us a small grant to enable us to continue this project.

We have welcomed the news that a summit meeting is planned in February; Here in Chiang Saen and will include all conservation groups who have interest in Yonok. This is the result of the Yonok Wetlands (Project) Conservation initiative and we are very proud that we have been instrumental in this. Hopefully we have assured Yonok's future by achieving recognition as a site of National importance for Thailand

It has taken Dowroong and Myself only a matter of 8 months to achieve this. It has been very tough and a huge amount of work, but well worth it. We are a team worthy of your support, as we have proved with success in such a short time.

During the past eight months we have concentrated our efforts on Yonok North. This is our model, Headquarters and show piece. The area is now in the main free from hunting problems.

Yonok South has had to wait it's turn as Donation and Funding all take time. We urgently need to tackle the South in a similar way as developed by Dowroong and Myself in the North of Yonok. This will take a lot of time as there are many villages and Temples.

There is much more to do; The recent burning of the Yonok (Nong Lom Harrier roost) resulted in the death of young Grass Owls; this highlights some very serious problems in Yonok South. This area is on the south and eastern border and is the most heavily hunted, a few people, with regard to burning, seem to ignore government policy.

Other issues: During the course of our travels we meet with many people, sometimes this leads to opportunities by invitation. We have been asked to lecture on Wildlife and Conservation. This has been a welcome and exciting departure and we have a number of venues awaiting attention.

This Project is "evolving" and we with it. Please Help us to continue this most valuable Yonok Wetlands (Project) Conservation initiative.