Is scientific knowledge necessary for effective management of mangrove ecosystems?

[alexchiu]

Dear Prof. Ong, Prof. Gong and all friends,
First all, I would like to say sorry to everyone here for my recent absense from E-forum. These days were very busy days for me. After coming from the training course in Malaysia, I had been out of many other cities for work trips. I just came from Fangchenggang 2 days ago. And there are still several field surveys waiting for me to conduct.
Of course, science knowledge is primary for effective management of natural resource, including mangrove resource. On this, maybe it's no need for me to talk too much, many colleagues have mentioned a lot above. But a notable case in point is the application of GIS technique in MPA management. Last week I came from another traing course financed by UNDP/GEF/SOA/NOAA, named 'Marine Protected Area Management Capacity Building and GIS Application Training Course'. With GIS technique, we can run our MPA in more effective and efficient manner. Peaple who are familiar with GIS would agree this viewpoint, I think.
One more thing, we sincerely invite all the friends here to participate the China National Forum on Mangrove Wetland.
Hope to see you all in Beihai!
Qiu

[alexchiu]

Dear colleagues,
One more photo, with friends from Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand [/quote]

[Gong Wooi Khoon]

Dear Friends,

Greetings - hope everyone is well and expect everyone is as busy as Xiao Qiu! Ong is away in Okinawa for the Pacific Science Congress/ISME conference - he said that there is some interesting stuff on mangroves and tsunami (received before the conference) that he will email all of us when he returns. I am busy too - just started sorting out my videos and tapes of the alst 35 years and yes, I have had to throw 90% of the VCDs and tapes out due to fungus - I shudder to think what happens when I start looking at photographic slides. Su Bo - have you backed up all your slides onto VCDs yet?

Thanks to Zhou, Qiu and colleagues for invitation to attend the Chinese in-country workshop. I will not be able to join you but would like to take this opportunity to wish you a successful forum. And, I look forward to seeing you in March/April next year for the RWG-mangrove meeting in Beihai. I expect we will be seeing Phuong there as well (as a member of the RWG?)

Best wishes,

Gong

[alexchiu]

Thanks Prof. Gong, I am writing a proposal for the project this week. As the saying goes, Winning Smart After Losing Big, I will try again this year.
And thanks Chris. Today he help me upload a photo, but due to the slowly connection between China and Thailand on the weekend, I had to send the photo to him by E-mail.
I learned from Zhou that probably Phuong will paticipate in Mangrove Forum in China this September, hope other friends can join us, and meet together again, I do miss those nice time in Penang, so many friendly guys....haha
Next week I will go to Zhanjiang for a exam of Metrology Authentication, and will stay for 5 days over there. So maybe I can come again after coming from Zhanjiang.
Regards,
Qiu
-------------------------------
QIU Guanglong
TEL(+86)779 6880875
Mobil(+86)13977975825
Guangxi Marine Environment and Coastal Wetland Research Center
(or)Guangxi Mangrove Research Center
92 Changqing Dong RoadBeihai City, 530600
Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, PRC 　
chiuchiu[at]vip[dot]163[dot]com; qalong[at]163[dot]com　
　　　　　　　　　2007-06-16

[Sonjai Havanond]

Dear Friends,

On 31 May to 1 June we had mangrove plantation for celebration of the king 80 years old in Chantaburi and Trat province. About 10 persons from Koh Kong, Cambodia came to join the ceremony as shown in the pictures.
They were also enjoy study in mangrove forest and nursery and plantation areas. They will apply this study to their area. It is the first time of cross boundary management for mangrove.

[John Pernetta]

Dear Colleagues,

I have just been copy editing the report of the 8th meeting of the RWG-M prior to sending it for princting and was renminded of our agreements regarding the e-forum. Under item 5.3.12 it was agreed that memebrs would take responsibility on a monthly basis for stimulating discussion and use of the forum as per the following list:

May Dr. Gong
June Dr. Fan
July Mr Vongwattana
August Mr. Koh
September Mr. Santoso
October Mr. Barangan
November Dr. Sonjai
December Dr. Pernetta
January Dr. Hoang Tri
February New Vietnamese Focal Point
March Dr Gong
April Dr. Fan
etc.

Well done Gong for getting things going but what happened Dr. Fan in June and Mr. Vongwaatana in July?

I note also that we agreed under agenda item 13 to post photographs for possible inclusion in the cookbook and that Dr. Fan agreed to provide something regarding sipunculid worms and Dr. Sonjai something relating to pickled sesarmid crabs and their use in Som Tam.

Perhaps Dr. Fan can get us going again with some photos and recipes for sipunculid worms, particularly the ones fried with white sesame seeds - delicious!

Regards to you all
John

[alexchiu]

Dear colleagues,
China Echo seminar of Mangrove Training Course was convened at Beilun Estuary National Ecological Reserve, Fangchenggang, China, from 30th June to 2nd July 29, 2007.
Forty five participants were attended in the training course. The represents were from SCS Fangchenggang Demo sites(Beilun Reserve), Shankou Mangrove National Natural Reserve, project execution institution(Guangxi Mangrove Research Center), schools, NGO, enterprise(Xindi Company) and department of land resources administration, oceanic administration, forestry and environmental protection.
The content of the training course were as follow (to be translated into English):
Topics
Lecturer
Wise-use of Mangrove and Managerial Economics
Mo Zhucheng
Mangrove Rehabilitation
Mo Zhucheng
Mangrove Management and Restoration
Mo Zhucheng
Introduction to Mangroves
Mo Zhucheng
Mangrove Productivity
Mo Zhucheng
Mangrove Structure & Function /Mangrove Goods & Services
Zhou Haolang
Mangrove Animal Diversity
Zhou Haolang
Economic Valuation on Mangrove Ecosystem
Zhou Haolang
Mangrove & Aquaculture/Silvofisheries
Zhou Haolang
Mangrove Plant Diversity in SE Asia
Qiu Guanglong
Mangrove Ecotourismin in SE Asia
Qiu Guanglong
Matang Mangrove Management Experience—Consideration on Mangrove Sustainble Utilization
Su Bo
Strengthen Cooperation, To Conserve the Mangrove Togethe- Reflections on Establishing Mangrove Conserving Network in SE Asia
Su Bo

Still, there were some interactive discussions (See photos) and fieldtrips during the training course.
It’s too late tonight; I think I will upload some more photos tomorrow. And probably Zhou and Mo will post more photos (they are more wonderful) soon……

[alexchiu]

from left to right

Mr. Liu Xiang (Oceanic Administration Bureau of Fangchenggang)

Mr. Tan Xuefeng(Guangxi Forestry Bureau)
Mr. Zhong Bin(Guangxi Environmental Protection Bureau)
Dr. Fan Hangqing(Guangxi Mangrove Research Center)
Mr. Liu Jingfa(Guangxi Land Resources Administration Bureau)
Mr. Wan Litao(Environmental Protection Bureau of Fangchenggang)

[alexchiu]

Representative of NGO was speaking

[alexchiu]

Mo was presenting