Phuket plants 24k mangrove seedlings to honor HM Queen Sirikit

PHUKET: Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut this morning led more than 1,200 people in a mass planting of mangrove trees to honor HM Queen Sirikit’s 80th birthday.

A total of 24,000 seedlings were planted over about 47 rai of land in the Klong Mudong area of Chalong.

“Among the specimens planted were Rhizophora apiculata, Ceriops tagal and white bean,” explained Kasem Sukwaree, chief of the Natural Resources and Environment Phuket office.

The mass planting was the third held in Phuket as part of a nationwide campaign to plant 800 million trees by 2016 in celebration of Queen Sirikit’s 80th birthday, which was celebrated on August 12 last year.

“The aim of the project is to urge people to preserve and protect the forest and other natural resources,” Mr Kasem explained.

“In Phuket, we started the project by planting 10,000 trees at Rama IX Park [Suan Luang, also known as King’s Park] in Phuket Town on April 8, 2012.

“The second project was on April 12, 2012, when we planted 8,520 trees,” he said.

Governor Maitri reminded the participants – especially the government officers – of the importance of preserving mangroves.

“Mangrove forests are an important part of Phuket’s coastal ecology that are being threatened by the development of tourism,” he said.

“It is important to preserve and protect natural forests, including mangroves, from being damaged. Every department needs to work together to preserve the valuable natural resources of the island forever,” Governor Maitri said.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong