Mangrove restoration
The Thor Heyerdahl Climate Park our first pilot project, is situated at Pathein University’s Research Centre in Ma Gyi in the Ayeyarawaddy Delta, at the edge of the Bay of Bengal. The park consists of a mangrove gene bank and a 1,800 acre large mangrove restoration park to mitigate 2 million tons of CO2 and serve as a protective shield for vulnerable coastal communities to save lives and property against extreme weather, in addition to creating sustainable development with alternative livelihoods and poverty reduction.
The park was initiated following research on mangrove restoration by Worldview International Foundation in 2012, in cooperation with Pathein University and Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry. The project is a model for mangrove restoration in Myanmar overcoming losses of 1 million Hectares since 1980. A comprehensive development model is being implemented based on biodiversity, combining large scale mangrove planting with wildlife protection, with dugongs and elephants being amongst the most endangered animals.
Our initial aim is to plant 100 million mangrove trees with more to be planted in larger parks. There is a potential to plant over 1 billion mangrove trees on available land in Myanmar. This will have a tangible impact on global and local development challenges.
When other countries follows, this pioneering venture can with your help become a milestone in human history.
BE PART OF THE SOLUTION IN AN INSPIRING CHALLENGE FOR A BETTER FUTURE
The project also includes
Scholarship for students
Field research has during the last two years been carried out by Myeik University and Pathein University. The research teams have been based on cross-disciplinary approach, organized with researchers from different departments of the universities, with the main contribution from marine scientists and 43 students supported by scholarships grants from Worldview. Three professors from Pathein University and Myeik University have been in charge of the research, guided by Worldview’s Senior International Scientist Dr. Ranil Senanayake and Dr. Bremley Lyngdoh a visiting scholar working on marine ecosystem assessment and valuation.
Community development
We are happy to report that new jobs with double income has been created. An important priority is to help children to attend school and obtain health services. The nearest school building has been repaired, and all school children have been given solar lights to lit up their homes and study after sunset. This has had an immediate effect on their learning ability. The solar lights have dramatically changed their lives from the age of darkness to the age of light.
Women empowerment
An important part of our overall aim is to empower women with better education, health facilities and new livelihoods. Planting flowering mangroves to feed honey bees is one of the livelihood solutions. Another activity is coloring of clothes with natural dye from mangroves and various plants. Another job creation project is production of virgin coconut oil, coconut flour, vinegar, natural rope from coconut fibre and activated charcoal from coconut shells. There are several other opportunities in better utilization of local raw materials, and in aqua culture and shell production in the mangrove creeks.
New job creation
The project has so far engaged 56 workers in establishing nurseries, clear land and plant 250.000 mangroves. More will come. The plan is to plant and regenerate 2 million trees. This means more jobs with decent income during the next years. Our aim is to increase the living standard of the poorest by 100% during the next three years.
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