Development of a Nature Trail for Ecotourism with Community Participation

Development of a Nature Trail for 

Ecotourism with Community Participation: 

A Case Study of M. 9, Ban Khun Samut Chine Village, 

Laem Fa Pha Sub-district, Phra Samut Chedi District, 

Samut Prakran Province 

Presented by 

Mr. Watanachai Chumak 

Dhonburi Rajabhat 

University 

Sustainable Tourism Planning and 

Development Laboratory

Global warming has affected human beings 

Rising temperatures have resulted in rising sea water levels and 

coastal erosion. 

Ban Khun Samut Chine Temple 



C 

Coastal erosion areas in Thailand 

Gulf of Thailand / north 

Gulf of Thailand / East 

Ban Khun Samut Chine 

community has been affected 

by coastal erosion as it is 

located near the Gulf of 

Thailand 

GฌGulf of Thailand / 

West – Upper part 

High risk areas 

Erosion areas 

GฌGulf of Thailand / 

West – Lower part 

AฤฤฟAndaman Sea 



Map of Ban Khunsamutchine in Year 1952 - 2009 



Distance between coastline and the temple 

Year From coastline to temple From temple to coastline 

( Temple located on land ) ( Temple located in the sea ) 

1952 360 - 

1974 220 - 

1991 70 - 

2002 - 400 

2009 - 360 

57 years total land erosion 1. 410 km. 



What happened to Ban Khun Sumut Chine? 

• Seashores are destroyed by sea water 

• Mangrove forests are destroyed 

• Shrimp farming concession 

• Lack of conservative consciousness 

• High temperature

Problems are….. 

• Lose occupational and residential areas 

• Lands were sunk 

• Villagers moved houses escaping from 

flooding average 3-5 times per person, 

maximum 8 times in life time. 

• Villagers relocated to another areas. 

• The registered population in the 

community approximately 400 people, 

actually residing in the community is 

around 200 people. 

• Renting lands for residing and 

occupation.

How to solve the problems ……… 

1. Cultivating the mangrove trees (long periods) 

2. Building concrete dam (high investment) 

3. Promoting people’s awareness in environment conservation 

and enhancing the realization of the effects of global warming 

4. Developing the area as an educational tourism center 



Ecological system in mangrove forest

Ways of life

Khun Samut Chine Temple

Chinese Shrine in Village

Develop the nature trail 

- Utilize tourism activities as a tool to solve problems in 

the community 

- A medium for raising tourists’ consciousness of global 

warming and impacts of natural resource destruction. 



Research objectives 

1. To develop a nature trail with community participation . 

2. To know the opinions of the community and tourists on the 

trail 

The process in developing the trail 

1) Survey of the trail 

2) Workshop 

3) Development of the trail 

4) Field trip 

5) First try-out of the trail 

6) Second try-out of the trail and evaluation 

7) Evaluation and conclusion 



Population and Samples 

- The community leaders 

- The committee members of the Conservation Group 

- Representatives from the Local Administrative Organization 

- Villagers 

Instruments 

- Action research 

- Workshop 

- Focus-group discussion 

- Training 

- Educational tour 

- Informal dialogue 

- Interactive learning and evaluation 



Step 1: Survey of the trail 

- Found the original trail which is a route within the 

village 

- Found existing directional signs and signs showing 

species of aquatic plants and animals 



Step 2: Workshop 

Training the community…. 

- How to develop the natural trail 

- Roles of local guides 

- Eco-tourism and sustainable tourism 

- Community based tourism 



Step 3: Development of the trail 

- Transferring community knowledge 

- Verifying the information 

- Preparing the interpretive signs 

- Mapping the village 



Transferring community knowledge activities

Drawing a map of the village

Step 4: Field trip 

- Field trip at the Study Center for Mangrove Forest Ecosystem 

and Environmental Park. 

- The trip provided the committee with the knowledge of and 

guidance on developing the trail, which they could apply to 

their community. 



Field Trip at Study Center for Mangrove Forest Ecosystem 

and Environmental Park, Prachubkirikhan Province

Step 5: First try-out of the trail 

• This activity allow the committee applying knowledge 

from the training in local tour guides and interpretation 

skills. 

• These tour guides not familiar with the route 

• Too much concerned about time 

• Uncertain about the information 

• Lack of skills in communication 



Try-out trip # 1

Step 6: Second try-out of the trail 

• Adjustments based on the recommendation from the first try-out. 

• The result shows that community have better skills 

For example; 

• Allowing visitors to express opinions and participate in problemsolving 

and natural resource conservation 

• Demonstrating how to breed the mangrove seedlings, 

• Cultivating the mangrove trees in the area 

• Educating about local wisdom 



Try-out trip # 2

Map of Ban Khunsamutchine nature trail

Global warming effected interpretation 



Ecological system interpretation 



Historical and cultural interpretation 



Interpretive signs

Step 7: Evaluation and conclusion 

• Community agrees with trail development 

• Learn new things despite being born and growing up in the area 

• Build good relationship among the community members 

• Increase the number of members of the Ban Khun Samut Chine 

Conservation Group. 

• Establish good relationship with local government agencies 

• Community realize the value, importance and benefits of the 

mangrove forest. 

• Trail development lead the community into self-reliance. 

• The trail raise the consciousness of natural resource conservation and 

of the seriousness of global warming 



Thank you for your participation.

Development of a Nature Trail for Ecotourism with Community Participation

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?