By
Pham Luan Khang ( FN403 ) and Tran Thien Tri ( FN403 )
10
LUMEN
Embracing Environmental Stewardship in Koh Samui
Energised by the hike to Sai Nuan Beach
EMBRACING ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP IN KOH SAMUI
The five days in Koh Samui was a memorable journey for 40 young Josephians – not because they changed the world , but because they did not .
We learnt about how small we are on the planet , and yet wreak incomprehensible damage with our daily habits . For instance , using one less plastic bag a day may seem insignificant . As a collective , however , such a simple reduction results in more than 8 billion plastic bags reduced each day .
As part of putting into practice the focus of this trip , we were encouraged to reduce plastic use as best as they could . We also trekked through forest resorts , hills and beaches to attune ourselves to the pure call of nature . Along the way , we cleaned the beaches , partially reducing the amount of trash entering the ocean and clogging up Ko Tao ’ s once-pristine beaches .
We were given guidance on conducting microplastic surveys along the coastline . We even sent our data to the UK , where scientists would analyse these data points to better understand not only the damage of microplastic in various places in the world , but also their effects on currents in the ocean .
We collaborated with the Coral Tribe in Ko Tao to build artificial coral structures and bottle nurseries to help support the proliferation of coral diversity underwater . Coral Tribe is well-known amongst the local communities for their dedication to raising awareness about ocean issues , particularly in the areas of marine conservation and data collection to inform restoration methodologies . When placed underwater , these manmade structures serve as homes to different types of fish , thereby ensuring marine sustainability .