MarineOperations - SAMPAN Project

On March 13-14, 2009 the Strengthening Andaman Marine Protected Areas Network Programme (SAMPAN) conducted a workshop to Identify Members for Protected Areas Advisory Committee (PAC) for Mu Ko Surin, Mu Ko Similan and Mu Ko Lanta. The workshop was held at the Boat Lagoon Resort, Phuket, with the Director of National Park Recreation and Interpretation Division opening the ceremonies.

Strengthening Andaman Marine Protected Areas Network Programme is a joint partnership between National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and French Development Agency.  The project aims to strengthening the natural resource management and biodiversity conservation as well as ensuring economic sustainability through the participatory process and reduce the impacts from tourism.

This workshop was the first in a series to apply a collaborative process to find related stakeholders to engage in Co-Management in the three marine national parks.  The 30 participants comprised of locals stakeholders, local administrative organization, NGOs, Government agencies, and technicians. 

 The SAMPAN Programme will continue to develop Protected Areas Advisory Committee in the three parks over the next two and a half years.