Yonok Wetlands

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Yonok project Update 23 10 07: Dowroong and I take our project work seriously, we have now achieved a high level of respect from the Abbots and Monks at the Temple of Ba Mak No. The monks have made for us a floating raft with a roof and seats for viewing harriers at close range. They had great fun, floating us out in it. Nice to see them happy after the worries of this week.

They are also constructing a platform overlooking the harrier roost. And providing us with an office and display. The intention, now, is to make; Wat Ba Mak No the focal point of the Yonok Wetlands Project. Having a Bird watching and conservation center and coupled with A Buddhist Meditation Center, linked to conserving the Yonok and it's Wildlife. The Abbots are now gaining interest from Monks from other districts as the word grows and the suggestion of an observation platform came from an Abbot from a different area.

The warmth we feel from the Abbots and Monks at Bar Mak No is an inspiration to us, and our mutual respect means that we are committed to supporting them, if an when problems arise.

Headline: Yonok Wetland Project has received a huge vote of confidence from the Temple of Ba Mak No. Through courageous efforts of Dowroong this week in dealing with a difficult and potentially damaging situation.

Dowroong has had to work very hard for the Temple as a mediator, with negotiations, regarding a local argument over land ownership, at one stage it looked like all the work they had archived at Wat Viang Cum would be lost. I believe due to her struggles this week, that the monks have made this very fine gesture of hosting our project in Wat Ba Mak No.

Dowroong met with a number of people during the week in trying to resolve this problem. She felt she had done quite well until we went to Wat Viang Cum on Saturday afternoon, following our two sessions of teaching. Luckily it was a cool afternoon and I suggested we did some birding before going home, Dowroong said lets go and see Ajan Sane in Wat Viang Cum.

The temple was deserted and 200 buffalos were trampling the trees, so careful planted by the monks, children and villagers. Just one young monk and a local woman were to be seen. The word of our presence must have got to the buffalo camp and a man quickly arrived and chased them out of the Temple. Dowroong tried to speak with him, but he just chased them out and left. There followed a heated exchange of words between Dowroong and the Mai Chan police, by telephone. This resulted in the head man of village number 9 arriving on the scene to talk with Dowroong.

Dowroong explained that 1000's of trees had been planted here in the Temple and that the Monks had no wish to cause people hardship but that a good compromise will be to allow the Trees to grow and latter the buffalo can return. She also explained the need for bird conservation, if you stop hunting in a few years the bird numbers will grow and that many Thai people are now in support of protecting birds and they're habitats. The Yonok project sees the buffalo as vital in preserving the wetland habitat. What we don't support is killing of wild creatures for financial gain. The future for Yonok is in good management and relationships within this wetland community.

Earlier this week Dowroong met with a woman from the Yonok Wetland community, farming and conservation group, who are based in Chiang Saen. Dowroong feels comfortable with talking with them and I have suggested ideas for helping farmers to understand the need for protecting birds such as Harriers and Owls and they're habitats as these birds are an asset to the farmer as they hunt birds and rodents that damage they're crops. I hope we can get the government to issue statements to this effect over the tannoy system so much employed here to convey information.

I feel confident now that we have demonstrated our commitment to this project. Dowroong has the respect of all sides, she is seen to be fair and will not subscribe to corruption. This morning as I made my way through several herds of buffalo I was met only with polite friendliness from the herders. So looks good for the future.

Harrier Roost floating viewing platform - designed by the Abbots and Monks of Ba Mak No: Pra Audta Jaruwanno and Pra Ajan Sane Tawaro are very happy to receive Bird watchers and naturalists to The Temple Island - Ba Mak No. The Abbots are keen to promote conservation and we intend to make Ba Mak No: The Yonok Wetlands Project Home. Pra Audta Jaruwanno who is the Abbott of Ba Mak No is very keen on meditation and is working with Pra Ajan Sane on ideas for providing accommodation at Ba Mak No and across the lake at Wat Viang Cum.

This area is of outstanding ornithological interest. The largest known roosts in Thailand exist here of Grass Owl, this species has only recently been discovered here in Thailand. The Yonok is also home to the largest roost of Pied and Eastern Marsh Harrier in Thailand. The Ba Mak No roost counts peak at over 200. The other evening I saw 70 male pied harriers circling. This is one of the ornithological experiences of a lifetime.

The Island Oasis of Ba Mak No is attractive to migrants birds and has stunning views over the wetland. The Abbot has started the work on the making of a perimeter patch for people to use to observe local nature. It was while talking with Him that I noticed a very large Pipit, A Long-billed Pipit: another new species for Thailand. This area is now producing some remarkable ornithological History.

The newly acquired area on the imitative of High Abbot Khru Ba Boun Chum has resulted in some important developments with regard to the Yonok Wetland Project.

1: As you will see from the map; The large Lily lake situated in the extreme northern tip of Yonok: has been kindly donated to the Temple, I am not sure who actually is responsible for this welcome gesture, but it has helped greatly to remove a couple of serious hunting problems.

Pra Ajan Sane who is now Abbot of the New Temple, Wat Viang Cum: He is constructing what he describes as a meditation and bird watching place of peace. This small building is now situated in the center of the Lily lake and can be easily visited by raft. Just contact Pra Ajan Sane in the adjacent Temple of Wat Viang Cum.

2: Pra Ajan Sane, Wat Viang Cum: Wishes to help people those who wish to stay in the Yonok for studying and enjoying nature by allowing camping in the Temple woodland, this is a little more in the future as some work still needs to be done. He would also be happy to receive foreign visitors as this will help to show local people that there is an interest by people from abroad.

3:Pra Ajan Sane has taken positive steps in the banning of hunters in the Yonok and has ordered them to leave. With complete success, he also said that the local fishermen are very aware of Mick Davies regular visits and they wish to be seen to be helpful in protecting the birds of Yonok.

Pra Ajan Sane asked if it would be possible to supply him with binoculars as he wish to search out the hunters that are to distant for his eye to see.

Ian Smith (Viang Yonok, hotel) has kindly donated a pair of binoculars for Ajan to use. Ian has also been busy with locating people interested in helping with our project for Yonok, we are very grateful for his enthusiasm.

I have to mention that there are a number of people who are actively helping, much behind the scenes, and have put in a lot of time in support of this project: John Roberts, Nick Upton and Phil Round and Dr Mong. I also wish to take this opportunity to thank Candice Fitzsimons for help me with teaching in the Temples.

4: Pra Ajan Sane explained his commitment to push on with the project in looking forward, to acquiring more areas to come under his and the Temples protection. Dowroong and myself are very happy to assist and will continue about our project work.

5: Tree Planting: This weekend the people of the 3 local villages will help Pra Ajan Sane at Wat Viang Cum in the planting 40,000 trees in the temple areas, Dowroong has indicated the need for shade along the paths and tracks of Yonok and this has been included in future plans.

6: Signs: we also hope to increase the number of signs in the area, WE do need a lot of signs, which will be placed at regular intervals of 50 meters or so on the perimeter areas of the Northern section.

7: Final Note by Mick Davies: This project has archived a large amount of success and very quickly. Some of our ideas have succeeded with a measure of luck, hard work and endurance.

The Idea of empowering the Buddhist Monks with the care of the Yonok has worked better than I could have expected. This I hope will be a model for the future.

We have been lucky in gaining the friendship and respect of Pra Ajan Sane, whom was previously involved in conserving nature, and long before we met with him. So it was easy for us to explain our ideas and objectives for the future of Yonok.

The ideas of teaching English to the children came from the Monks, this has greatly helped us in demonstrating our commitment to Yonok and to gain the trust and friendship of many local people.

High Abbot Khru Ba Boun Chum: explained that he was visited in a dream and was compelled to create a New Temple in Yonok, this is now Wat Viang Cum. As luck would have it Khru Ba Boun Chum has entrusted this New temple to Pra Ajan Sane.

It seems to me an obvious way of helping people to understand the need to protect the communities of peoples and animals in our world. Buddha I believe wished to see harmony and love between peoples and all our creatures.

And so the project is going smoothly along and will develop and I believe will succeed in the hands of the Abbots, we will monitor the projects progress and advise as and when we see the need.

Dowroong and I have a lot to do here, but we are happy that this wetland is in safe hands.

Hi John: Project going well, we had phone call from May he has more than a hundred people in his village wanting to learn with us and many friends who wish to join and help, he's a good guy May. We had to say that we will meet them but we have no time at the present to extend the Teaching, even if we were provided with Farang teachers Dowroong will have to work with them to push the conservation issue and the Buddhism. And people only want us anyway. Our reputation is growing fast.

I spoke with Ajan Sane this morning: he has been awarded charge of the new temple situated on the hillside overlooking the Harrier and Grass Owl Roost. This is the Ba Mak No roost not the original oranges roost.

Pra Ajan Sane said that 750 rai had been given to the Temple and he intends to use that area for conservation of jungle habitat.

Pra Ajan Sane was asked why he wished to work with Michael & Dowroong as one is a Foreigner, His reply was! I see them very clear as the right good people: we have similar ideas and are a great help to each other in our beliefs and hopes for conservation of the Yonok wetland. We have no conflict in working together.

Pra Ajan Sane also has shunned TV reporters he says he wishes to go about his work quietly and the Temple is for mediation there will be no construction of cement Temple buildings and the Temple will have many species of Trees planted.

Dowroong and Pra Ajan Sane spoke together for than an hour this morning and are in complete agreement. That this project is heading firmly in the right direction.

I will draft this part and give it to Pra Ajan Sane for his approval, he dose not speak English but one of his assistants has quite good English, I am sure he will concur with what I have written.

I have to say I am so please the way this project has gone, it could not have worked better or smoother and in such a short time. I we have made many new friends.

Today: I spoke with Pra Audta Jaruwanno of Temple Pa Mak No, he said he was so happy, before we spoke to him so few people came to The Temple now he has so many.

So this idea will work: four days ago a new Temple area has been cleared for Pra Ajan Sane, this will be the middle and strongest link in the chain, Pra Ajan Sane has become a friend he is a conservationist and a man of commitment he will see his part in the project through. You will see in latter parts of this document and updates how he is fulfilling his Buddhist belief.

We will support Pra Ajan Sane in any way we are able. We wish to help Pra Ajan Sane to give the true Buddhist philosophy to one and all.

1: There has been no objections to our ideas only high praise. We only seek to give protection to all creatures and to help the Monks to convey they're word to all.

2: We have or very close too: succeeded in making Yonok Wetland North a protected area and will be secure through the temple Boundaries .

There were also a number of captive Chinese Francolins which have been released by the villagers.

3: We are very hopeful of protecting the wet bog land of little England now and the surrounding forest.

4: We have the support or the Buddhist Monks, many children, villagers, people involved with the non hunting area of Chiang Saen Lake and now we here of new Temples that are interested as the word spreads.

We have had a surprisingly high response to our English teaching classes: about 150 people are attending.

5: We intend to see this project through regardless and will give as much time as possible to it. We are the best chance for this area of Thailand has for its birds you will never get a better team of free thinking individuals working for the survival of birds and animals and there is no better negotiator than Dowroong Damlamajak.

6: We have today completed our initial approaches with all representatives of potential interested persons and groups within the Yonok Wetland. The result of these talks has been extremely encouraging and some very good ideas have resulted from the various meetings.

7: In only the space of only 48 days we have achieved all of this for our world. We are very happy at being instrumental in achieving this.

Saturday 4pm: Just completed a highly successful day on this project, it is now firmly on course.

At Wat Ba Mak No: we met with our teaching class at 9am. I have to say I was pretty chuffed.

All 70 children brought a tree and after our lesson at 11am we all went planting trees, quite a sight everyone mucking in: the Monks, children and villagers.

It was a very happy morning and everyone seemed very to be pleased to be involved.

The Villagers had prepared food for all of us in the Temple and after our meal some children stayed on.

Well after eating I was stunned to see the older children (mid teens) boys and girls marking out the plan for the English sign. Some will paint the words others the pictures.

I have become very impressed with Pra Sane Tawaro he is a man of conservation and I could see this man was so happy at today's events. I think his dream is greater than mine.

I hope that this Temple will become our show piece for the Yonok Wetland, anyway it is one of the most interesting and beautiful Temples in Thailand .

At 12.30 we left for Wat Yonok for another 2 hours teaching: the senior village boss was there and he seemed willing to help and is getting on with organizing the making of the signs, the teaching here is going well.

Later while checking the wetland a fisherman from the buffalo camp came over to us and gave Dowroong a small present of some lily seeds (you can eat them) He said that his son was learning English with us at Ba Mak No and he was pleased with that.

So I think we can win here, at least we have a fair chance, seems like everyone is on our side.

On our way home I saw one of the monks we teach walking, he told us he had a 6 mile round trip to come to learn English with us on Saturdays, makes one humble doesn't it.

I hope to involve the local children and their parents in tree planting and clean up schemes, maybe we can use the project money to throw a small party for participating members, and in fact we can make a club and call it:

Seems they are happy with us. Pra Ajan Sane: Monk at Ba Mak No: have asked the children to bring a tree each, when they come to see us on Saturdays.

I am going to stick to the Temples , I trust them and they are keen to make the signs for the No Hunting.

Dr Mong (lanna bird group) gave us a 3000 baht donation towards the cost of the signs.

Update: 16 June , adults and children attended Wat Yonok to register there names and we intend to start on Saturday.

Mr Pra Juntor Terawoodto will also speak to anyone he sees hunting the Temple areas, we are most grateful for his support.