Culture & Ecology of the Andaman, ISDSI Thailand Study Abroad

A video from ISDSI's study abroad course, Culture & Ecology of the Andaman, in Thailand. http://www.isdsi.org/courses/oceans/

Course Description: Islands, Reefs and Mangroves. [Ecology/Geography] Coastal communities are on the front line of the ecological impact of marine resource depletion and global fish stocks. This course focuses on the coastal communities and islands of the Andaman Sea, Southern Thailand. This course examines two ecologically important areas — the coast of Trang and the Adang Archipelago — focusing on reef ecosystems, mangroves, seagrasses, and the human communities that depend on them for their survival.  Both the physical and cultural environments are challenging—over a week of travel will be by sea kayak, and half of the course will be in a small Southern Thai fishing village. By the end of the course, students will have an understanding of the major issues surrounding coastal ecology and culture, with experience in and understanding of coral reefs, mangroves, sea grasses and tidal areas; as well as understand the unique challenges and struggles of the human communities that live in the coastal zone — the semi-nomadic Urak Lawoi and Southern Thai Muslim fisherfolk.  These cases represents a complex situation of multiple and often conflicting resource uses in the coastal ecosystem and rapidly changing ways of life for the coastal and island people. Fall & Spring semesters.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Asia
• study abroad
• coasts
• sustainability
• ocean
• islands
• reefs
• mangroves
• fish
• political ecology
• culture
• marine ecology
• Thailand
• Southern Thailand
• development
• Chiang Mai
• sea gypsies
• Adang Archipelago
• Southeast Asia
• education
• experiential learning
• homestay
• traditional livelihoods
• ethnography
• social research
• people
• religion
• coastal ecosystem
• snorkeling
• kayaking
• ocean navigation
• geography
• www.isdsi.org
• educational