SEEK a sustainable Phuket, Friday August 24th 2012
SEEK Inaugural Conference and AMCHAM Forum
Friday 24th August 2012 @ Holiday Inn, Patong Beach, Phuket
8.30am – 4.00pm: The Future of Phuket “Sea, Sand & Sustainability / Seeking a Sustainable Phuket”
4.00pm – 6.30pm: American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) Green Business Forum
TOPIC: Green Business Review of Phukets leading Hotel Reduce, Reuse & Recycle programs
RED ALERT
Phuket is over its carrying capacity today and is in a crisis situation.
Our landfills are at capacity, our new incinerator is not yet turned on and there is no curb side recycling. Our fishing fleet has limited controls leading to overfishing, our beaches with only few exceptions have regular cleanups and there is no anti litter campaign. Our energy source is non renewable, the solar industry is embryonic, our fuel is subsidized and there is little energy efficiency in the public or private sector. Our eyes are wide open as we soak up the pleasure dome that this island province is, whilst eyes wide shut to the problems and the needs for a sustainable future.
Phuket is a mixture of the good (worlds best beaches, wonderfull thai food, culture and hospitality & year round sunshine and warm weather), the bad (non sustainable practices, litter, untamed consumerism and an island treated as a bottomless resource pit) & the ugly (beach encroachment, crime, throw up architecture & abuse of the sea)
A 2025 Vision, today, on current trends, is not a utopian tropical isle based around 1970 island images but an overcrowded, overbuilt uncontrolled greed festival. No space on the beaches, destroyed reefs that are more deserts than tropical splendours. An Exploited and Abused pearl amidst the Indian ocean, beaches that are a dumping ground for Thailand, Burma, Bangladesh & India.
Fortunately all is not lost, although we are at a fork in the road and do need all your individual support. Our collective GOAL that can be civic community led is for a sustainable Phuket, a Low carbon island and for it to be a World class marine reserve. This is possible but requires STRATEGIC PRIORITIES that include preserving our Cultural Values, stronger public & private sector partnerships & the support of Phuket’s key life supports: Better Land use & increased Green areas plus Water, Energy & Waste conservation and efficiency
The Andaman Sea
Thailand has a coastline of almost 3,000 km (one third along the Andaman Sea Coast and two-thirds along the Gulf of Thailand Coast) and an EEZ of around 360,000 km2.
Throughout the entire coastline, in-shore shallow water fisheries provide important food security and income for local small-scale fishers. Marine capture fisheries within the EEZ and coastal aquaculture together generate around $3 billion income/year.
Mangrove cover declined from 2 million rai in the mid-70s to 1 million rai in the mid- 90s, but has since recovered to 1.5 million rai. Phang-nga, Krabi, Trang and Satun account for almost two-thirds of remaining mangroves, while Chantaburi and Trat have the most remaining mangroves on the Gulf side. Coral reefs and sea grass beds on the Andaman coast are generally more abundant and in better condition than on the Gulf coast.
There are a total of 23 coastal/marine protected areas in Thailand, but together they represent only a very small proportion of Thailand’s seas and coasts, while mangrove forests and inter-tidal mud-flats are vastly underrepresented in Thailand’s protected areas system. Large parts of the coast are de-facto managed by local communities.
While their rights and responsibilities in this regard are enshrined in the Constitution, there is no law passed to recognize, permit and control community-based management of mud-flats, coral reefs and sea-grass beds, etc. In large islands including Phuket, Samui and Chang, tourism is a major driver of the economy.
For the last 40 years, the coastal zone has been the scene of severe conflicts between small scale fishermen and large commercial fishing businesses; and between local communities and investors in commercial prawn farms, tourism, and other development projects.
In many ways the tragedy of the 26 December 2004 Tsunami spurred a renewed interest in Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) and rehabilitation of coastal ecosystems from sustainable livelihoods and disaster risk reduction. More recent (and still growing) concerns about the effects of climate change in the coastal zone, are helping to maintain that momentum.
This is an opportunity to share and exchange experiences and lessons learned from a variety of recent initiatives, programmes and activities in the coastal zone – both in community-based resource management; sustainable fisheries and aquaculture (including certification) marine protected areas; marine tourism; climate change adaptation and disaster risk management. It will identify workable solutions to pressing problems in the coastal zone; help to identify gaps that need to be filled; and prioritize issues for capacity-building, institutional development and legal/policy reform.
Summary
9.00am Opening ceremony Dignitaries:
- Mr. Apisan Sangasri – Chief of Kathu District
- Dr. Robert Mather – Head IUCN Southeast Asia
9.30am Overview & Phuket Success Stories
- SEEKing and DOing Sustainable Phuket by Dr. Chamniern Vorratchaiphan – Senior Director, Thailand Environment Institute (TEI)
-
How CSR Can Contribute to a Sustainable Phuket by Mia Overall - Senior Researcher, CSR Asia
-
Beach Program and Plastic Reduction by Nick Anthony, Indigo Real Estate
-
ASEAN environmental education by Peter Harris - Director, Asia Pasific Environemntal Network (APEN)
-
SEEK Goals and objectives for a Sustainable Phuket – Sean Panton - CEO, SEEK Phuket
11.00am Presentation - Sustainable Indicators for Phuket
Update on stakeholder workshops and findings by Robert Steele – Senior Partner, Atkisson Group & Director Systainability Asia
Presentation of key indicators for a sustainable Phuket
1.00pm LUNCH
2.00pm Afternoon Breakout session into 4 Groups
Nature
|
Goal/Future Outcome
|
Aspects
|
Indicators
|
Solutions and Strategies
|
|
Natural Resources and protected and laws are enforced |
Protected Area Management |
●Extent and Quality of protected area ●Living Planet Index |
●effective law enforcement by local government with effective ●”Guardian” scheme to give ownership to local people |
|
Phuket is a Green/renewable energy Province “Low Carbon |
Energy Source –Renewable energy |
●% of renewable energy vs. unrenewable sources ●carbon footprint vs. carbon offsetting |
●insentive schemes for businesses (carbon tax) ●insentives/ education to use low carbon fuels for transport |
|
Sustainable Waste Management is practiced thorughout Phuket |
Waste Management Practices (Incinerator, Landfills) |
●% of recycled waste v. Incinerated/landfill waste |
●Awards schemes for businesses/institutions that recycle ●Set up easy to use recycling schemes and roadside collections |
|
Phuket’s Environment Quality is World Class and healthy |
Environmental Quality |
●Environment Quality Index |
●effective law enforcement by local government with effective ●Award Scheme for compliant businesses and communities |
|
Phuket’s Beaches, Watercourses and Streets are Green and Clean |
Beach |
● Compliance with international standards for bathing water ● Measure volume and type of litter collected during clean-ups, size of |
●”Guardian” scheme to give ownership to local people, |
|
Phuket has an Environmental Education programme that permeates |
Environmental Education (EE) in School |
●% of schools that include Eco Education programme across the |
●Awards schemes for schools and students ●Certification for schools |
Nature discussion group
|
Name |
Organization |
Position |
|
|
Nicholas Franklin |
CBRE |
Senior Program Manager |
|
|
O.B. Wetzell |
Development Management Group |
MD |
|
|
Jacob Ritter |
Katathani |
Exc.Comm. |
|
|
Mr.Kittipan Sabkhoon |
Maikhao Marine Turtle Foundation |
Coordinator |
|
|
Tim Holzapfel |
Making Teams |
Marketing&Event Manager |
|
|
Somyod Singbumrung |
Patong Municipality |
นักวิชาการสุขาภิบาล |
|
|
Simone Allone |
See Bees Diving |
Pr Manager |
|
|
Nakorn Amornwatpong |
WWF-SAMPAN Project |
Technical Advisor |
|
|
Petch Manopawitr |
WWF-Thailand |
Program Manager |
|
|
Bill Reidy |
|
|
|
|
Debra Mierczak |
|
|
Economy
|
Goal/Future Outcome |
Aspects |
Indicators |
Solutions and Strategies |
|
Phuket supports a green economy and green businesses |
Green businesses |
Number and % of hotels that achieve …certified. |
|
Goal
- The group puts focus on Goal No.3
and 4.
- Goal No.4 – for Phuket, to be the region’s leader in Sustainable Tourism, is
time consume and needs lot of supporting information to compare to another 4 provinces
in the region.
- Goal No.3 is a solution to reach Goal No.4.
- Therefore, Goal no.3 is a good start and feasible for our time frame as some
green business initiatives already exist.
Aspect
- There’re representatives from 4
different hotels in this group. They said that in terms of changing behavior at
individual level, many hotels now have practiced some common green behavior
like garbage recycling, conserve energy and water among the hotel staff as well
as encourage guests to reuse their linen stuff, conserve energy and water in
their room.
- At system level, many hotels and businesses have practiced environmental
management in their own way such as using eco-friendly products, applying water
treatment system/waste management, getting food supply from nearby local
community/organic farm, etc.
- CSR program is also well-known and has been perform in many private
organizations.
- As a result, green businesses is the best aspect as it broadly covers the
main economic activities in Pkuket
Indicator
- At present, there’re so many
standards related to green businesses.
- In Phuket, a clear requirement for businesses that want to achieve the
“sustainable green businesses”,
“…certified”, “Sustainable Tourism framework” has to be declared.
- A comparison among different standards needs to be addressed as well. It can
be done by getting hotels together then they can exchange their green practices
and eco-friendly technologies and finally find a common-ground standard that
every hotel agrees to perform.
- SEEK can host/produce the standard.
Solution and strategy
The group offers some solutions that might support green businesses
in Phuket;
- 1. Get multilingual education institutions to train the green course to
business owners and staff.
- 2. Use financial incentive to motivate people into green businesses.
Data source for the indicator could be
- Thai Hotel Association
- Phuket Tourist Association
- Prince of Songkla University Phuket Campus(Faculty of Hospitality and
Tourism, Faculty of Technology and Environment, Phuket Community College)
- Phuket Tourism Authority of Thailand
- Phuket Chamber of Commerce
- International Business Association of Phuket (IBAP)
- Federation of Thai Industrial Phuket
Economy discussion group
|
Name
|
Organization
|
Position
|
|
|
Bryan Lunt |
Absolute World |
CEO |
|
|
Ms.Prapapun Noikongdee |
Andara Resort&Villa |
HR Coordinator |
|
|
Mr.Songsak Thongkhaobue |
Andara Resort&Villa |
HR Coordinator |
|
|
Nampetch Tipaxsorn |
Movenpick Resort&Spa Karon Beach |
Director of Marketing |
|
|
Vina Pikunpon |
Phuket Municipality |
ผู้อำนวยการกองสาธารณสุข |
|
|
Sanwit Iabchoon |
PSU Phuket Campus |
Master Student |
|
|
Thanyada Sornsil |
PSU Phuket Campus |
Master Student |
|
|
Pareeda Mankhakhet |
PSU Phuket Campus |
Master Student |
|
|
Supaporn Potpradit |
The Paradise Koh Yao Boutique Beach |
Executive Assistant Manager |
Society
|
Goal/Future Outcome |
Aspects |
Indicators |
Solutions and Strategies |
|
Goal 1: All School have sustainability incorporated in as a • We need a new generation who understand sustainability concept so they can |
• Sustainability Curriculum |
• Number of schools that incorporate local issues in their curriculum. • Status of sustainability within al schools (Vision, mission, policy, |
|
|
Goal 2: Phuket is a safe (low crime) society for everyone • We need a safe society for the kids to grow up |
• Crime |
• Indicator: Number of violent crime/ Number of total crime (For |
|
|
Goal 3: Phuket Government is inclusive, transparent and green. • Many development projects from both government and private sector are not |
• Community Engagement and consultation (information sharing) |
• Indicator: Number of public hearings/ community consultations |
|
Society discussion group
|
Name
|
Organization
|
Position
|
|
|
Mia Overall |
CSR Asia |
Senior Project Manager |
|
|
Ty Collins |
JW Marriott Kao Lak |
GM |
|
|
Alexandra Vander Pol |
Kajonkiet School |
Teacher (English) |
|
|
Sarunporn Thongpinyochai |
PSU Phuket Campus |
Master Student |
|
|
Nutsara Mekjinda |
PSU Phuket Campus |
Master Student |
|
|
Jutaporn Keson |
PSU Phuket Campus |
Master Student |
|
|
Jutarat Suwannarat |
PSU Phuket Campus |
Master Student |
|
|
Dithanan Senrit |
PSU Phuket Campus |
Master Student |
|
|
Wisarut Suwanno |
PSU Phuket Campus |
Master Student |
|
|
Papitchaya Muankoo |
PSU Phuket Campus |
Master Student |
|
|
Martin Mayke |
MET AsiaCO., LTD |
|
hetasia@csloxinfo.com, info@mat.compostingsystems.de |
Wellbeing
|
Goal/Future Outcome
|
Aspects
|
Indicators
|
Solutions and Strategies
|
|
The people of Phuket are heathy |
Physical and mental health |
- Dengue fever statistics - Medical rate - Alcohol use - Youth crime rate |
|
|
People feel safe |
Crime, accident, violence |
- % of helmet use - Youth crime rate |
|
|
People appreciate, value, and engage with nature |
Use of parks and nature area |
- Public & recreation space per person |
|
|
The people of Phuket have basic needs |
Affordability of basic needs |
- % of household that has access to clean water |
|
Wellbeing discussion group
|
Name |
Organization |
Position |
|
|
Tanu Nabnien |
Andaman Organization for Participatory Restoration of Natural |
President |
|
|
Samrej Zeepongsekul |
CPALL |
GM |
|
|
Meesak Saekok |
CPALL |
Area Manager |
|
|
Aeecha Binsam |
CPALL |
Area Manager |
|
|
Jacob Ritter |
Katathani |
Exc.Comm. |
|
|
Suthee Yeeson |
Phuket Rajabhat University |
Student |
|
|
Pongsit San-e |
Phuket Rajabhat University |
Student |
|
|
Kanokpat Chumpornpun |
Phuket Rajabhat University |
Student |
|
|
Nitipong Thonnam |
Phuket Rajabhat University, Department of Tourism Industry |
Lecturer |
|
|
Naiyana Srichai |
PSU Phuket Campus, Faculty of Tchnology and Environment |
Acting Vice Dean |
|
|
Chaturong Kongkaew |
PSU Hatyai Campus |
PhD Student |
|
|
Tianchai Tiyapongpattana |
เครือข่ายภูเก็ตจัดการตนเอง |
Working Group |
3.30pm Summary and Closing Remarks
3.30pm AMCHAM registration in lobby
4.00pm AMCHAM Discussion
TOPIC: Green Business Review of Phukets leading Hotel Reduce, Reuse & Recycle programs:
Recycling today, energy efficiency, being water wise and getting more bang for your buck whether a hotel, or business, or at home.
Saves you money as pennies become pounds… and saves the environment!
INTRODUCTION
Sean Panton, SEEK
Dr Paul Chamniern, Thai Environment Institute
MODERATOR
Arnfinn Oines, Social & Environmental Conscience, Soneva Resorts
PANEL
Anthony Lark, General manager, Trisara
Ty Collins, General manager, JW Marriott Khao Lak
Morgan Layberry, EAM, Holiday Inn Patong
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