Volunteering in Thailand to Restore Ecosystems

In line with this year’s theme for World Environment Day, here are volunteer programs you can join.

By: Nanticha "Lynn" Ocharoenchai

Since the Industrial Revolution, our natural habitats have degraded to the brink of collapse. This doesn’t just affect plants and animals, but also the wellbeing of us, humans. To ensure our survival, we need to restore the ecosystems which provide food, shelter, and air to all life on Earth.

In the last few years, there has been an influx of locals, expats, and travelers in Thailand taking a stand for nature. From picking up plastic trash on the beach and planting trees in degraded forests to protesting on the streets for climate justice and petitioning to tackle air pollution in cities, more and more are joining the conversation and movement for environmental justice and action.

In this article, you will gain insight into Thailand’s diverse geography, ecosystems, and wildlife and how you can help protect and restore natural habitats to their former glory through volunteer programs.

Eco-Volunteering with an Ecosystem Approach

• What is ecosystem restoration?
• What kinds of ecosystems exist in Thailand?
• Seeking the right volunteer program for you
  • Programs for terrestrial ecosystems (land)
  • Programs for marine ecosystems (water)
  • Programs for climate (air)
• Finding other ways to help

What is ecosystem restoration?

Ecosystems are areas where plants, animals and microbes, as well as the weather, the landscape, and other components interact to form a network of life—in this community, all organisms depend on another for their survival.

Ecosystem restoration is defined as the reversing of nature degradation in mountains, lakes, coastal regions, rainforests, and other biomes to a point where wildlife can thrive and nature’s functions can recover. This is not only about tree planting or trash picking, but also about creating a dialogue to shift environmental policies and protect environmental activists.

Working to conserve these ecosystems can translate into fighting for the social justice of communities whose livelihoods depend on their natural resources. With the growing movement and need for a multidisciplinary range of environmentally conscious allies, you can now find a wide array of areas and capacities to contribute to ecosystem restoration based on your skillset.

What kinds of ecosystems exist in Thailand?

Aerial view of a major natural mangrove forest dotted with towering limestone cliffs in Phang Nga, Thailand. Source: Richard Whitcombe / Shutterstock.com

Thailand’s varied range of geographical terrain has resulted in its rich biodiversity. Located in the middle of mainland Southeast Asia and along the equatorial belt, the majority of the country experiences high levels of precipitation and consistent temperatures throughout the year.

There are two main types of forests in Thailand, evergreen and deciduous, home to endangered animals like the Asian elephant and Indochinese tiger, as well as rare plants such as the giant Rafflesia flower and the Siamese rosewood tree. In its freshwater ecosystems, you can find exotic fish like the Mekong giant catfish. The country is also surrounded by the Andaman and South China Sea, which are home to magnificent marine creatures such as the whale shark, olive ridley sea turtle, and manta ray.

Unfortunately, many of the natural habitats that support these exotic species are now subject to deforestation, agricultural development, poaching, and habitat loss due to the ever-increasing pressures of human activity. With industrial development, more cities continue to expand without proper guardrails to ensure environmental and social responsibility.

Even leaving aside the onslaught of wildlife extinctions, unsustainable development also hurts us. The health of our ecosystems is extremely crucial to our wellbeing, as they provide ecosystem services that keep us alive. For example, birds and bees pollinate our crops, mangrove forests protect us from storm surges and coastal erosion, trees regulate our water cycle and store carbon emissions, and our coral reefs shelter many species of juvenile fish until they reach adulthood.

To protect our home, we can help nature and act through the right volunteer programs.

Seeking the right volunteer program for you

Thailand is one of the top destinations for volunteer programs where you can not only create a positive impact, but also discover Thai culture and philosophies rooted in environmentalism. Throughout these programs, you’ll have a chance to connect with nature, form meaningful relationships with locals, and learn different conservation methods.

When it comes to finding the perfect volunteer program, longevity is the key to ecosystem restoration, because nature takes time to heal. Therefore, you’d want to avoid parachuting and partaking in one-time activities, as some may simply be tourist attractions, unethical, or offer few long-term benefits on the ecosystem and local communities.

There are many volunteer abroad programs available, but to point you in the right direction, below are some reputable projects and groups. Some of these are for-profit organizations which come with fees, while others are non-profit volunteer communities you can join at no cost.

Programs for terrestrial ecosystems (land)

Programs for marine ecosystems (water)