A Study of Biological Diversity to Develop the Educational Coastal Ecotourism Site in Muangkluang Sub-district, Kapur District, Ranong Province Supaporn Suksileung Chwit Attasat Apiradee Suantan Nalena Prapiraksit Rakchanok Koto*

Kapur District

- Wetland of Laem-Son National Park and Kapur Bay and Kapur Bay - Abundance Biodiversity and tremendous habitats of endemic species habitats of endemic species - The Ramsar Site in order of 1183 since October 14, 2002 since October 14, Ranong Biosphere Reserve from UNESCO since 1997 UNESCO since 1997

To study the diversity of natural resources in To study the diversity of natural resources in order to promote ecotourism destination in the order to promote ecotourism destination in the coastline of Muangkluang sub-district coastline of Muangkluang sub-district To develop the guidelines for establishing To develop the guidelines for establishing an educational coastal ecotourism site an educational coastal ecotourism site To assess the operational results of the To assess the operational results of the educational program in the community educational program in the community

MATERIALS AND METHODS 1. Study Area 1. Study Area: Muangkluang Sub-district, Kapur District, Ranong, Thailand 1.Laem Son beach 2. Koh Maprow 3. Koh Nok Hook 4. Koh Thoa 5. Koh Piak Num Yai 6. Koh Piak Num Noi 7. Ao Rai 8. Cage Culture in Mangrove 9. Laem Now Area 10. Ao Khoei Sampling Plots

2) Population Sampling : 1) 19 related individuals who have been involved in planning, managing, and participating of tourism administration at Coastal Ecotourism Site in Kapur District (For creating the educational site and tourism activities development) 2) 27 participants - 17 general tourists - 10 academic personnel (For assessment of tourism activities)

3.1) Biodiversity Survey 3.2) Educational Site and Tourism Activities Development 3.3) Assessment of Tourism Activities Arrangement

3.1) Biodiversity Survey the specimens from 10 locations were collected in 3 Kingdoms ; Protista, Plantae and Animalia 3 types of algae; green algae, brown algae and red algae 2 classes of coastal flora; monocots and dicots 13 Phyla of aquatic fauna; echiura phoronida Mullusca brachiopods Echinodermata chrodata porifera cnidaria Platyhelminthes Nemertea arthropoda annelida sipuncula

3.2) Educational Site and Tourism Activities Development To provide academic supports to local communities To arrange focus group discussion for stakeholders To plan and manage of tourism activities within the area.

3.3) Assessment of Tourism Activities Arrangement To manipulate a pilot project based on tourism management for the coastal resources learning of local people To operate the activities 2 times – the operation was included 17 general tourists. – the operation was participated by 10 academic personnel from several disciplines of science, business, and tourism.

1) The biodiversity of living organisms 3 Kingdoms – the living organisms of 3 Kingdoms were found in this study Kingdom Animalia 283 species 154 genera 13 phyla Kingdom Animalia 283 species 154 genera 13 phyla Kingdom Plantae 21 dicot species 2 monocot species Kingdom Plantae 21 dicot species 2 monocot species Kingdom Protista 4 species of green algae 4 species of brown algae 3 species of red algae Kingdom Protista 4 species of green algae 4 species of brown algae 3 species of red algae 317 species. The living organisms in the coastline area of Muangkluang Sub-district, Kapur district, Ranong province were entirely found 317 species.

Protista

Plantae; Sea grasses

Plantae; Monocotyledons

Plantae; Dicotyledons

AnimaliaAnimalia Identified to 13 phyla 154 families and 283 species Identified to 13 phyla 154 families and 283 species Porifora2Echiura1 Cnidaria11Phoronida1 Platyhelminthes1Mollusca78 Nemertea1Brachiopoda1 Arthropoda63Echinodermata24 Annelida7Chordata88 Sipunculida2Total283

Animalia Animalia

1.Laem Son beach 2. Koh Maprow 3. Koh Nok Hook 4. Koh Thoa 5. Koh Piak Num Yai 6. Koh Piak Num Noi 7. Ao Rai 8. Cage Culture in Mangrove area 9. Laem Now Area 10. Ao Khoei

3.2) Educational Site and Tourism Activities Development To provide academic supports to local communities To arrange focus group discussion for stakeholders

Pre-manual for studying the biodiversity in coastal line of Muangkluang Sub-district Poster of diversed organism Pre-manual for studying the biodiversity in coastal line of Muangkluang Sub-district Poster of diversed organism

Assessment Results of Knowledge Distribution to Local Community

1) the tourism development should be based on the 4 important components 1. area 4. Participation 2. Management 3. activities and procedures

2) the suitable interpretations and activities 2) the suitable interpretations and activities

To manipulate a pilot project based on tourism management for the coastal resources learning of local people 3) Assessment of tourism activities arrangement in the educational site 3) Assessment of tourism activities arrangement in the educational site

The living organisms of 3 Kingdoms composed of totally 317 species of Protista, Plantae, and Animalia were found Dominant spices of the aquatic fauna in this area are composed of 4 phyla – 4 species of sea cucumber – 3 species of jelly fish – 2 species of tube worm – 1 specie of tongue shell Biodiversity Survey

After Tsunami disaster some species were found in this area; - Tongue shell - Razor clam - Nudibranch - Some reef fish It was assumed that the occurrence of these species might be brought from coral reef off Kapur coast

Educational site and tourism activities development The results of focus group discussion illustrate that the tourism development should be based on the 4 important components (Ceballos-Lascurain, 1998) – 1) area – 2) management – 3) activities and procedures – 4) participation a successful developing and promoting of ecotourism in the community should be based on local people participation (Tungchitwattana, 1996).

Assessment of tourism activities arrangement in the educational site They were held in order to navigate a pilot tourism project for coastline resources learning together with local guide. At first, the participants were general tourists and later were academic personnel. The results show that the tourist participants and academic personnels have very much agreed with this project. The most agreed aspect was community services providing followed by the service outcomes.

An educational site is meaningful for supporting education even though learners are not at class room (Good, 1973). The important principles of educational site should be based on reality of places and conditions and there should be located of discipline management center in order to establish an effective and diverse educational site (Wannapong, 1998). This research covers the feature of the principle of ecotourism.