Teachers, students plant rare species of palm in Phuket National Park

PHUKET: Phuket teachers and students helped plant 100 of the rare White Back Palm trees near Ton Sai Waterfall yesterday in honor of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut led the tree planting ceremony, which included officers from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Teachers and students from Muang Thalang School and Weerasatree Anusorn School joined the ongoing project to preserve and protect the unique nature within the Khao Pra Taew National Park..

Governor Maitri explained that the project is derived from the Environmental Conservation Youth Camp initiative which is part of the Royal Initiative of Princess Sirindhorn to preserve and protect the natural beauty of Thailand.

The White Back Palm, also known as the ‘Governor’s Palm’, is indigenous only to Khao Pra Taew National Park and was first identified in 1929 by an Irish botanist, according to Khao Pra Taew National Park chief Pongchart Chuehom.

“When Princess Sirindhorn visited Ton Sai Waterfall on December 18, 1996, she planted White Back Palm trees,” Mr Pongchart said.

In addition to planting 100 trees, participants helped spread fertilizer around an additional 219 trees.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong