For those tired or slightly bored of globetrotting just for the sake of it, ecotourism is a hot travel trend worth looking into! With environmental awareness skyrocketing globally, more and more ways arise to help promote the preservation of ecological and cultural sustainability.
The problem?
It’s still not so easy for the local communities and organizations to attract the right kind of crowd. The opposite is also true: as a tourist who wants to engage more in local conservation, where do you even start?
Today we will go over five unique opportunities currently available in Thailand. These organizations offer anyone a chance to make a difference by helping exotic, often threatened, natural environments:
1. The Gibbon Rehabilitation Project
Located in the last remaining rainforest of Phuket, The Gibbon Rehabilitation Project is rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing gibbons in Thailand since 1992. Their mission is, as they put it, “to return Thailand’s most intelligent wildlife species, gibbon, back to where it’s previously extinct.” The organization will be happy to see you in Phuket where you can learn about gibbons and get an over-the-shoulder glimpse at the day-to-day work of the activists. They also run an “adoption” program which enables anyone to support a chosen gibbon’s rehabilitation and help the animal get back to the forest.
2. Trash Hero Thailand
Thash Hero is an international community of volunteers (locals and tourists alike) who get together for weekly cleanups — and to hang out afterwards. Taking part in one of the Trash Hero events in Thailand (be it in Bangkok, Koh Chang, Koh Phangan or other locations around the country — you can subscribe to their Facebook page for updates) is a fantastic way to meet new people and make your contribution to the health of Thailand’s unique nature. No cost, no sign-up — just show up!
3. New Heaven Marine Conservation Program
Reef building is the word of the year in Thailand! Based in Koh Tao, New Heaven Reef Conservation Program offers a chance to get involved in coral reef research and restoration. Choose your way to contribute based on how much time and resources you have available — from one-day immersion experience to few-days reef conservation courses and even a full 3-months internship! You can help taking care of baby turtle hatchlings or gain hands-on experience in maintaining artificial coral reefs. If you are interested in learning to dive, they offer an opportunity to get trained and certified as a Conservation Diver!
4. The Soi Dog Foundation
There are an estimated 8,5 million “soi dogs”, or stray dogs, in Thailand. It’s everyone’s best interest to bring down this alarming number, but the methods commonly practiced in the country include euthanasia and even selling the dogs for meat. The Phuket-based Soi Dog Foundation finally introduced a humane approach to the issue: providing the dogs with shelter, treatment, and eventually “forever” homes. Volunteers are always welcome to help “socialize” the new rescues and to help them travel to their new families. You can also become a sponsor or even adopt a furry friend yourself!
5. Ko Yo Homestay
This village on Ko Yo Island offers the visitors a unique chance to observe first hand the community whose economy relies on sustainable fishing, farming, and cotton weaving. Help locals cultivate chempedak (a fruit similar and related to breadfruit and jackfruit) and get a hang of their trademark prawn-trapping techniques (hardly a useful skill in your day-to-day life but probably a great conversation starter). Have a great time and help this unique community build a better future!
