Conservation Projects
South Moresby Campaign
In
1974 Thom founded the
Islands Protection Society, a Queen Charlotte Islands environmental
group, and drafted the original South Moresby Proposal. He served as
director and spokesman for the Society for more than a decade and waged the
largest national park campaign in Canadian history. The area was
protected as a National Park Reserve July 11, 1987. In 2005, the National Geographic Society hailed this "Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site" - the best protected area in North America.
Penan Campaign
Thom has been bringing the plight of the Penan people of Borneo to the
world's attention for nearly three decades. In 1990 he visited a dozen
countries raising consciousness via the "Voices of the Borneo
Rainforest World Tour." He continues to press for recognition of the Penans human and customary land rights during talks throughout the world. In 2007, Thom was asked to facilitate a historic accord in Sarawak, Malaysia between the Pena and Kelabit tribes so that they might file a joint claim in the high courts to protect their forest homelands.
Environmental Education Campaign
Thom has been a champion of environmental education for the past three decades through countless Rediscovery programs. For the past 18 years he has been Lead Facilitator for youth from around the world that attend Rediscovery Training at Canada's United World College.
For the past decade, Thom has led Reefs to Rainforests environmental education adventures in Thailand. Hundreds of students from Thailand, Japan, Korea, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Canada have benefited from his 'hands-on' approach to learning about ecosystems and environmental problems.
Books
Thom has co-authored a book about the South Moresby Campaign, and the
Penan. He has authored a book on the Mentawai, and several books on environmental education.
