Fresh Voices from Youth – Hope in the Mangrove Forest Through the Story of Mahachai Betta Fish
Young conservationists in Samut Sakhon are working to protect disappearing mangrove forests and rare Mahachai betta fish, proving that local children's genuine connection to nature offers hope for preservation efforts in areas increasingly
When speaking of mangrove forests near Bangkok, many people don't realize that Tha Chalom and Mahachai still have remaining mangrove areas, since most perceive these cities as industrial centers and economic hubs filled with development.
Yet beneath this perception, in the areas of Tha Chalom, Mahachai, and Bang Phla Phaeng in Samut Sakhon province, mangrove ecosystems remain hidden, though they diminish daily in a concerning manner. People who grew up with mangrove forest traditions face social currents that view these areas as merely "wasteland" and worthless.
For some, the mangrove forest has become a burden that increases land taxes, forcing many areas to be cleared and destroyed.
Amid this crisis, small stories reignite hope. Young people named Dhanva, Jing, Rung, and Pooh from Tha Chalom and Mahachai spend most of their free time in the mangrove forest. They don't see it as merely a playground, but as natural habitat deeply connected to their lives. These children monitor visitors, watch for illegal wildlife capture, and learn to coexist with nature with genuine understanding.
"My house is right in front of this mangrove," Dhanva (Varanyu Gaeosukkasai) shares with concern. "Whenever we have free time, we come to search for Mahachai betta fish. They've become much rarer lately because dikes were built around the forest, blocking water flow into it. If it doesn't rain, the forest dries up, and the betta fish die."
Growing up within the mangrove forest allows these children to absorb the value of local resources without anyone telling them. Though they may not yet see the full crisis clearly, the bond and care they've developed are vital seeds for future conservation. The mangrove forests may be declining, but they haven't disappeared entirely.
"What worries me is that if the mangrove forest disappears, it's not just the city's green space that's lost. Species within the ecosystem like the Mahachai betta fish will vanish too, along with the lifestyles and wisdom that locals have passed down for generations, leaving only memories," says Kim Jirapun, vice president of the Betta Fish Association.
Kim Jirapun Promraksa, vice president of the Betta Fish Association, has continuously promoted Mahachai betta fish conservation through mangrove forest stories, sharing ongoing efforts filled with hope.
The crucial question may not be simply "how much mangrove forest remains," but rather "how can we preserve what's left" so that the mangrove forest doesn't become merely a memory passed down by previous generations.
For today's children, the mangrove forest shouldn't be just a past story to be told, but a space where they can play, learn, and grow alongside nature. And perhaps the mangrove forest's hope doesn't lie with anyone else, but in the small hearts of these children who still see value in what many have forgotten.
