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Thailand’s tsunami saviour: a mangrove forest

Muslim fishing village was saved by a mangrove forest – and now efforts are under way to save it from developers.

View of the mangrove area around Baan Nai Rai village, one of the Thai villages hit by the tsunami in 2004. The mangroves notably reduced the impact of the wave on the area. Now the villagers are trying to protect the area from turning into a tourist resort. 
By Vincenzo Floramo
Published On 26 Dec 2014

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Baan Nai Rai, Thailand – While thousands perished in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, a mangrove forest saved the Muslim villagers here from certain death. 

Since the massive waves ploughed into Thailand’s southern coast, however, a development company has tried to claim the land, bulldoze the mangrove forest, and build a luxury tourist resort. 

In 2006, 100 villagers reached an agreement with the investor to relocate their houses to another area a few kilometres away, but they refused to give up on the mangroves. Nevertheless, in 2013 a court ruled that the private investor had legally acquired the land. 

Today, the Muslim community is trying to find additional evidence to again bring the case back to court and save the mangrove forest that saved them.

A tsunami hazard sign set at the entrance of the Muslim village of Baan Nai Rai, in southern Thailand, after the 2004 disaster that killed 220,000 people in a dozen countries. 
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A local fisherman comes back on shore after a working day on the sea in Baan Nai Rai village, one of the Thai villages hit by the tsunami in 2004. 
Fish farms at the lagoon of Baan Nai Rai village, one of the Thai villages hit by the tsunami in 2004. 
A woman pushes her boat to the shore after work at Baan Nai Rai village, one of the Thai villages hit by the tsunami in 2004. 
Small fish are processed for food for bigger ones raised in enclosed farms at Baan Nai Rai village.
A dog guarding one of the fishing farms at Baan Nai Rai village. 
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A child awaits for fishermen to come back to shore at Baan Nai Rai. 
A box filled with the fishing result of a day of work at the sea. 
Narong Sawangsup, 48, with his 9 years-old daughter, stands in the doorway of his new house, built by the company that evicted him from Baan Nai Rai village eight years ago.
A woman waits with her two children near the shore for the fishermen to come back and start her working routine cleaning and processing the fish.
Around 100 people were evicted after the 2004 tsunami by a company that has plans to build a tourist resort in the area and relocated few kilometers away.
Baan Nai Rai cemetery, located just a few meters from the sea shore, is the most important reference for the people in the village since their ancestors rest here.
The work day finishes late in the evening at Baan Nai Rai village.