Plastic Pollution & Conservation

OverviewTravel to Thailand’s Phang Nga Province, known for its scenic natural beauty and an abundance of endemic wildlife and marine species. Plastic pollution is one of several environmental threats facing this region.

On this program you will contribute locally to the conservation of this area in Thailand and globally to Sustainable Development Goals #14 Life Below Water, and #14, Life On Land, set by the United Nations.

The main focus of this program will be minimising the effects of plastic pollution through conducting and promoting regular beach cleans, collecting and analysing data on coastal and marine debris, as well as promoting plastic pollution awareness and environmentally friendly behaviours in the local community and among international visitors.

In addition you will also be contributing to other conservation initiatives along with GVI staff and other participants from around the world. This might include working at turtle research and conservation centers and conducting biodiversity surveys of nearby islands, including bird surveys, regular beach cleans and teaching environmental education classes, for which full training will be provided. From November to March you might also get involved in coral reef health and fish abundance and species surveys while snorkeling on the coast of Phang Nga.

Throughout the project, get to know fellow international participants, and gain in-depth insight into what life is like in southern Thailand, from traveling by Songthaew, a local shared taxi service, to exploring Thai cuisine with every meal. During your free time, visit the popular tourism destination of Phuket or go island hopping around Phang Nga. You could also travel further either before or after your GVI program to Bangkok or Chiang Mai.

The field activities involve working at our partner turtle research and conservation centre; assisting with animal husbandry, enclosure enrichment studies and maintenance. You may also be involved in biodiversity and camera trapping surveys on nearby naturally pristine and barely habited islands. Along with this, you will be involved in regular beach cleans, bird surveys and teaching environmental education classes. From November to April, you may also be involved in coral reef monitoring. Your participation in these various projects is very much dependent on the needs of our project and our project’s partners and alters seasonally. Work with turtle research and conservation centre takes place year-round, as do beach/ community cleans and education classes in local schools. Furthermore, once a month we visit our satellite base camp on nearby islands for camera trapping research. 

You will be based in Phang Nga Province, working at centres and schools in and around the area (transportation will be provided to daily work placements). Traveling around the local area is quite easy with cheap and reliable buses between all major towns. Any additional or recreational travel will be at the volunteer’s own expense, so this should be budgeted for accordingly. In your down time you will be free to travel in the local area. In this time you could take part in GVI side trips, relax at the program base or visit the numerous beaches, islands, caves, and national forests for which the region is famous. Before and after your program you could visit the remnants of a 160-million-year old rainforest at Khao Sok National Park, also home to the world’s largest flower. Alternatively, you could kayak through estuaries cutting through 200 meter foliaged limestone cliffs, mangrove channels and tidal lagoons while keeping your eyes open for local wildlife. Or experience island life on one of the many Andaman islands in the region known for their dazzling marine life as well as their stunning terrestrial beauty – the possibilities are endless!