MAP and Partner CCRCs
19 Coastal Community Resource Centers (CCRCs) or Community Resource Centers (CRCs) are located in the following countries:
Andaman Islands
Cambodia
Honduras
India (2)
Indonesia (8)
Nigeria
Senegal
Sri Lanka (2)
Thailand
Timor Leste
Andaman Islands
Name: Mangrove Resource
Center
Location: Point Ward No.1, Sathya Nagar, Shore Point, South Andaman
Managing organization/partner:
Coastal Poor Development Action Network (COPDANET)
No.85, Vivekananda
School Street,
Sakthivel Nagar
Chennai 600 082
INDIA
e-mail: arpmds@md3.vsnl.net.in
Date of
establishment:
2004
Supported by: Seacology
Focus/Highlights: Awareness programs on mangroves, supporting people’s management in environmental restoration, revitalizing traditional livelihoods, and using people’s knowledge to mitigate coastal disasters.
The center previously carried out post-tsunami relief work. Current focus is on cooperating on environmental awareness campaigns in schools, colleges, and tribal reserves through popular theater, leaflets, posters, picture competitions, celebrating Mangrove Action Day, and holding consultations for like-minded Andaman Islanders on important conservation issues in which people’s decisions and actions are badly needed.
Resources:
Andaman Islands CCRC Report (pdf 65 KB)
Cambodia
Name: Tonle Sap CRC
Location: Chhnok Tru Commune, Baribour District, Kg Chhnang Province
Managing organization/partner:
Development and Appropriate Technology (DATe)
Village: Kdey Thnoat (in Kampong Chhnang
Town)
Commune: Srei Thmey
District: Rolea B’íer
Province: Kampong
Chhnang
CAMBODIA
e-mail: date@camintel.com
Date of establishment: 2005
Supported by: McKnight Foundation and Global Greengrants Fund
Focus/Highlights: First resource center in MAP’s network to be constructed in freshwater habitat. Unique, as it floats on bamboo and moves with the community as Tonle Sap, the Great Lake, recedes and expands.
The floating center is used to mobilize the community in natural resources management with the following objectives:
- reduce fuelwood use, sustainable management of forest resources;
- promote awareness of flooded forest conservation;
- integrate into the Chhnok Tru community, providing a focus for sustainable community development.
Resources:
Improved Cookstove
Dissemination and Flooded Forest Progress Report (pdf 664 KB)
Honduras
Location: Choloteca
Managing organization/partner:
CODDEFFAGOLF
Jorge
Varela
e-mail: coddeffagolf_sanlorenzo@yahoo.com
Date of establishment: 2004
Focus/Highlights: Still not finished, but provides a meeting place and dormitories for small gatherings. Focus is on issues of fisherfolk, including mangroves.
India (2)
Name: Community Coastal Resource Center
Location: Gupti, Bhitarakanika, Orissa
Managing organization/partner:
Sandhan
Foundation
Qr. No: D - 62, Jayadev Vihar
Bhubaneswar-751013
Orissa
INDIA
e-mail: bknanda@sify.com
blog: www.livejournal.com/users/sandhan
Date of establishment: 2005
Focus/Highlights: Located on the boundary of the world famous Bitarkhanika Wildlife Sanctuary, which has a very rich diverse mangrove ecosystem. The center is made up of a revitalized former tourism department building and several small buildings made in the traditional mud and wattle construction method. The mud buildings fit the local landscape and environment.
One of the main objectives of the center is testing and demonstration of supplementary livelihood options. Education and awareness program on coastal resource conservation and management will also be an important aspect of the center’s work. The center is still seeking funding to complete the buildings and to undertake livelihood projects suitable for local communities.
Supported by:: IUCN-NL
TRP / UNEP
Name: Pulicat Lake
Mangrove Training Centre
Location: Pulicat Lake, Tamil Nadu
Managing organization/partner:
Coastal Poor Development Action Network (COPDANET)
No.85, Vivekananda
School Street
Sakthivel Nagar
Chennai 600 082
INDIA
e-mail:
arpmds@md3.vsnl.net.in
Date of
establishment:
2005
Focus/Highlights: Constructed as part of a project aimed at training the local fishers, Tribal and Dalit communities around the lake not to destroy the mangrove for firewood and house building, but to conserve and plant mangrove seedlings wherever they're degraded.
Responsible for
training village communities using non-formal methods, such as popular theater
skills, role plays, songs and folk dances etc. The educational
themes used are overfishing, siltation of the lagoon, and the neglect of
fisherfolk demands for better fishing gear and crafts.
Mangroves are threatened mainly due to the mushrooming of shrimp aquaculture by the rural elites so there are also special campaigns on lake destruction caused by non-fisherfolk, which is one of the root causes fish depletion. The center also trains locals in mangrove propagation techniques and nursery maintenance with the raised seedlings being used to rehabilitate mangroves around Pulicat Lagoon.
Supported by: Global Greengrants Fund
Indonesia (8)
Name: Daseng Lolaro (CCRC-Tiwoho)
Location: Tiwoho Village, Bunaken National Marine Park, North Sulawesi
Managing organization/partner:
Perkumpulan KELOLA
e-mail: j_sonjaya2000@yahoo.com
tel: +62
274 901 054
Date of establishment: 2003
Focus/Highlights: This is the first CCRC established in Indonesia. Daseng Lolaro comes from the Minahasan words
Daseng (a place for fisherfolk to congregate for a change in luck) and Lolaro (Rhizophora mangroves). Daseng Lolaro sits above 25 hectares of
rehabilitated disused shrimp ponds, which now make up part of an approximately
80 hectare village mangrove preserve.
Activities include: Environmental Education, Mangrove Management, Mangrove Rehabilitation, Bamboo Utilization, Improved Cookstoves Dissemination Point, and Undergraduate and Graduate Research from Universitas Sam Ratulangi.
Facilities: Library, Auditorium, Offices, Pottery Barn and Kiln, Waste-water Gardens™, and Computers.
Supported By: Goldman Foundation, Seacology Foundation, CORAL Foundation, IUCN-Nederland, ICCO, Global Greengrants.
Resources:
Development and
Programs of the CCRC in Tiwoho (pdf 2 MB)
Name: Balai Dusun &
Sanggar Belajar Masyarakat (Public Hall and Community Learning Workshop),
and Sanggar Belajar Petani (Farmer Learning Workshop)
Location: Lempong Pucung and Gragalan, Segara Anakan Lagoon, Cilacap, Central Java
Managing organization/partner:
Asia Pacific Study Program
e-mail: j_sonjaya2000@yahoo.com
tel: +62
274 901 054
Date of establishment: 2004
Focus/Highlights: A bamboo pavilion and bamboo cement office comprise the Balai Dusun Lempong Pucung. Building atop a 10 meter layer of mud presented a challenge for the architect team, which came up with a floating foundation design using lightweight bamboo as the main construction element.
Programmatically, Environmental Education is the focus of this center. The Jelajah NUSA EE program is based in the center, with students from the entire district, plus Yogyakarta, coming to immerse themselves in hands-on watershed, mangrove, and agro-ecosystem studies. Overnight programs (1-3 nights) are offered, free for schools in the Segara Anakan Lagoon, with a fee for schools from outside the area.
Sustainable Agriculture & Agroforestry: The Farmer Learning Workshop in Gragalan was built by ex-fisherfolk from Motean Island, learning farming skills as an alternative livelihood to fishing. Fishing in the Segara Anakan Lagoon has declined over the decades as only 25% of the volume and surface area of the lagoon remain due to sedimentation from mainland Java.
The CCRC also functions as a Town Meeting Hall, as the village
of Lempong Pucung has no
other meeting space and runs a Fisherfolk
Kitchen Program.
Facilities: Library, Camping, Brackish Water Aquaculture, Meeting Space.
Supported by: Goldman Foundation, Global Greengrants Fund, Rufford Foundation, Sea World-Busch Gardens.
Resources:
Development and programs of the
CCRC in Segara Anakan (pdf 3 MB)
Development of agriculture and
aquaculture activities at Segara Anakan (pdf 1.4 MB)
Name: Sanggar Belajar (4 CCRCs)
Location: Kuala Indah Village, Naga Lawan Village, Jaring Halus Village, Belawan Village, North Sumatera Province.
Managing organization/partner:
JALA (North Sumateran
fisherfolk Advocacy Network) and local fisherfolk organizations (IPANJAR, SNSU,
Bhakti Mandiri)
e-mail: j_sonjaya2000@yahoo.com
tel: +62
274 901 054
Dates of establishment: 2004-2006
Focus/Highlights: Fisherfolk cooperative meeting areas and Sustainable Livelihood Development. These simple meeting centers range in price from US$300 - $4000, and were designed to meet the specific needs of the groups.
Kuala Indah CCRC
Built for the May 2004 'In the Hands of the Fishers' (IHOF) workshop. It was blown down in July 2006 during a direct hit by a tornado.
The community has now rebuilt the CCRC and uses it for children’s education, as well as fisherfolk and community meetings.

Naga Lawan CCRC
Built using bamboo/plaster technique.
It houses both men's and women's fisherfolk cooperatives.
Jaring Halus and Belawan CCRCs (no photos)
Supported by: Goldman Foundation, WWF-Educational Fund for Nature, VIA, Christensen Foundation, Global Greengrants Fund, Zoological Society of London.
Name: CCRC Bengkalis
Location: Bengkalis Island, Riau Province
Managing organization/partner:
Yayasan Laksana Samudera
e-mail: j_sonjaya2000@yahoo.com
tel: +62
274 901 054
Date of establishment: 2007
Focus/Highlights: Nursery School, Environmental Education, Fisherfolk Meetings
This is the newest CCRC. Although it was constructed without MAP assistance, it is based on MAP’s CCRC developments in other parts of Indonesia. There are 10 Mangrove Stewardship Groups active in the area, managing and restoring over 300 hectares of mangrove forest in the region.
Facilities: Nursery School, Library, Meeting Area.
Name: CRC Pakem (Under
Construction)
Location: Kali Kuning (Yellow River), Pakembinangun, Yogyakarta
Managing organization/partner:
Petani Rukun, Ngudi Lestari
e-mail: j_sonjaya2000@yahoo.com
tel: +62
274 901 054
Date of establishment: 2007
Focus/Highlights: Watershed Conservation, Sustainable Agriculture and Aquaculture, Environmental Education.
Showcasing 3 bamboo constructions:
- Low-cost housing used in post-earthquake relief, built by Indobamboo of Malang;
- 2-story hexagonal structure, designed by Professor Morisco of Gadjah Mada University;
- Open meeting hall, to be designed by Eko Prawoto and Sahabat Bambu, MAP’s bamboo production unit.
The 2nd and 3rd structures will be built with bamboo treated at Sahabat Bambu’s treatment facility.
Facilities: Office, sustainable agriculture and aquaculture demonstrations; future: meeting hall, library, multi-media studio.
Supported by: Indobamboo/ARKIS, UGM – Civil Engineering Laboratory, UNIDO, Private donors (anonymous)Nigeria
Name: Mangrove Resource Center
Location: Cross Rivers State
Managing organization/partner:
Mangrove Forest Conservation Society of Nigeria
AKIE HART
e-mail: iwomgtprjt2003@yahoo.com
Date of establishment: 2002
Focus/Highlights: Established a mangrove nursery to provide seedlings for planting degraded areas; freshwater aquaculture ponds for tilapia or carp.
Senegal
Name: Soulom Mangrove Resource Center
Location: Soulom
Managing
organization/partner:
West African Association for Marine Environment - WAAME
Abdoulaye Diame
e-mail: waame@arc.sn
Date of establishment: 2003
Focus/Highlights: Located near the mangroves, provides a meeting place and dormitories for gatherings. Focus is on issues of fisherfolk, including mangroves, as well as providing working models of alternative development projects, such as oyster culture and small-scale fish culture.
Sri Lanka (2)
Name: MAP/SFFL South Asia Mangrove Resource
Center
Location: Pambala, near Chilaw, Western Province (at 66.5 km highway marker)
Managing organization/partner:
Small
Fishers Federation of Sri
Lanka (SFFL)
P.O. Box 01
Pambala, Chilaw 61000
SRI LANKA
e-mail: sffl1anu@bellmail.lk
Date of establishment: 1996
Focus:/Highlights: First Mangrove Resource Center established by SFFL, located at head office and training center. Receives both national and international visitors. Activities include:
- Education programs for school groups
- Planting mangrove seedlings
- Scientific research by national & international students
- Exhibitions
- Field trips, study tours
- Location for seminars, workshops, and trainings
- Experiment and support of alternative livelihoods
- Setting for In the Hands of the Fishers (IHOF) workshops
Name: Kiralakele
Mangrove Resource
Center and Biological Garden
Location: main Southern Highway at Nonagama, Ambalanthota, Hambantota District, Southern Province
Managing organization/partner:
Small Fishers Federation of Sri Lanka
(SFFL)
P.O. Box 01
Pambala, Chilaw 61000
SRI LANKA
e-mail: sffl1anu@bellmail.lk
Date of establishment: 2001
Supported by: Seacology
Focus/Highlights: The 2nd mangrove center to be opened by SFFL. "Kiralakele"
is the name for Sonneratia in the local Sinhala language, as the center is located within a Sonneratia
caseolaris mangrove forest. It is common for travelers to stop here
for a break to visit the mangrove center and walk along the short pathway at
the edge of the mangrove. Dusky Languar
are often seen amongst the mangroves, as are Flying Fox Bat roosts, the largest
known fruit bat species. One can purchase a bottle of mangrove fruit juice made
from the fruits of Soneratia caseolaris,
produced by a local women’s group as a supplementary income generating project.
Many school children also visit the Center to learn about the importance of
mangroves.
Resources:
Kiralakele
Mangroves Resource
Center and Biological Garden Sri Lanka, booklet (pdf 5.4 MB)
The Mangrove Resource Centre and Biological Garden
at Kiralakele, Ambalantota
Thailand
Name: Phra Thong Island Environmental Education Center
Location: Tapayoi Village, Phra Thong Island, Phang Nga
Managing organization/partner:
NAUCRATES, Onlus
Friends of Sea Turtles
Via
Corbetta, 11
22063
CANTU' (CO)
ITALY
e-mail: naucrates12@tiscali.it
Date of
establishment:
2005
Supported by: Aiutare I Bambini (Milan, Italy)
Focus/Highlights: Phra Thong Island on the Andaman coast was one of the areas most seriously impacted by the tsunami, with one of the 3 communities totally destroyed. It is the focus area of the Naucrates sea turtle, mangroves, seagrass, and coral reef project. Naucrates lost 2 foreign researchers and 4 Thai staff to the tsunami, plus all of their facilities and equipment. In remembrance to these people, and to give something tangible to the people of Koh Phra Thong, especially for the children, Naucrates decided to raise funds to build a small CCRC.
The building is multi-functional and located right beside the island’s main school in Tapayoi Village. It will become the focal point for educational activities on nature conservation for the island’s children. The building has a library corner with books which can be used by children to support their research and/or school work and in order to enrich their knowledge.
MAP has supported Naucrates in post-tsunami mangrove clean-up and a small restoration project in the area of the most severely damaged mangroves. MAP is also cooperating with Naucrates on environmental education at Phra Thong Island.
Timor Leste
Name: Centro Formasaun
Location: Buccoli
Managing organization/partner:
Grupo Naroman, SAHE Institute for Liberation
e-mail: j_sonjaya2000@yahoo.com
tel: +62
274 901 054
Date of establishment: 2006
Supported by: Canada Fund
Focus/Highlights: Sustainable agriculture, bamboo utilization, women’s development, improved cookstoves, literacy.
A participatory building resource survey resulted in the choice of bamboo as the main construction material and the development of a bamboo treatment facility. The community took part in the design process, prioritizing key functions of the community center and the decision to to construct 2 separate bamboo structures; drafted by Eko Prawoto of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, and built by Grupo Naroman (the community-based organization of Buccoli) along with trainers from Sahabat Bambu.
The entire process lasted 11 months and included trainings on improved cookstove and kitchen design as well. Technical experts from Java, Sulawesi, and Columbia combined their efforts on this project, but the real heroes are Grupo Naroman themselves, who are far and away the most committed and well organized stewards of any of the community resource centers in the region. Unfortunately, access to this center is currently hampered, due to unrest in Timor Leste’s capital city of Dili, a 3 hour drive to the west of Buccoli.
Facilities: Library, multi-media center, meeting hall, seed saving area.
Resources:
Development of the
CCRC (Centro Formasaun) at Buccoli (pdf 4.2 MB)