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Recognising the ongoing need to preserve the stunning natural surroundings that draw visitors to its pristine shores, Thailand’s Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort is expanding its environmental program and inviting guests and local communities to help make a difference on land and below the water's surface.

Resort General Manager Chao Treenawong explains “over the years, we've witnessed the rich ecosystem of Koh Phi Phi slowly deteriorating through manmade causes.

“Whether hotelier or local villager, the natural environs are our livelihoods, and we vow to do our part for this ecosystem.”

A five-acre plot on the resort grounds has been dedicated to the planting and nurturing of new mangrove trees. The tropical coastal vegetation protects shorelines from erosion, helps maintain water clarity, and provides breeding and nursery grounds for a number of marine organisms, but in recent decades by environmentally unfriendly harvesting and fishing practices.

Resort guests will have the opportunity to join staff and community leaders in bi-annual mangrove planting events; when filled, the on-site plantation will hold upwards of 700 mangrove trees.

The Resort has also developed a coral nursery for young coral. Here, after around 10 months when the coral is strong enough, it is transplanted onto the offshore reefs that surround around the island to replenish the natural beauty beneath the sea.

The Resort has also designated the 18th of every month as ‘Save The Sea Day’ with the day seeing trained staff members checking and maintaining the resort's coral nursery with help from hotel guests.

The day also sees staff members and guests collect any garbage that has built up within a one-kilometre radius of the resort.

In addition to these environmental initiatives, Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort has also undertaken a number of other sustainable initiatives to reduce the impact of the resort's ecological footprint. These include making natural fertilizer from food waste created at the resort, using earthworms to dispose of wet food waste and introducing a number of efficient environmentally friendly water purification systems including a on-site state-of-the-art reverse osmosis plant.

Chao added “we aim to reduce the stress that's put upon our environment and return balance to the delicate ecosystems to the best of our ability.

“With these initiatives in place, we hope to stand as a figurehead for a more environmentally sustainable Koh Phi Phi.”

Images: On ‘Save The Sea Day’ guests and diving instructors plant young corals in the ocean around Koh Phi Phi (top) and guests and staff of Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort help to plant mangrove trees (below).

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