Rayong -- Charoen Pokphand Foods Plc (CPF) opens “Grow-Share-Protect Mangrove Forestation” Project at Pak Nam Prasae, Rayong as its first CPF mangrove ecosystem learning center for growing mangroves on the right way as part of  the company’s activity to jointly celebrate the King’s 70th accession to the throne.

The activities is also drawn to create ecotourism area to expand community network to protect mangrove forest. It also plans to grow mangrove trees covering new plantation of 40 rais.  In addition, a number of 10,000 aquatic animals will be released.

Mr.Sujint Thammasart, Chief Operating Officer for Aquatic Farming Unit of CPF, said the CPF mangrove ecosystem learning center aims to encourage youths and general people to grow mangrove trees on the right way. Moreover, it will also inspire people to realize on natural resourced conservation and preservation. This will help establish new ecotourism area in the Kingdom.

CPF has joined hands with Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Biodiversity-Based Economy Development Office (Public Organization) and Civil Society to lay down strategy for mangrove preservation and restoration. The strategy comes under “CPF Grow-Share-Protect Mangrove Forestation Project” since 2014 until 2018, focusing on five provinces including Chumporn, Rayong, Samutsakon, Songkhla and Pang-nga.

He added that the learning center operates through the collaboration between concerned government agencies, private sector, school and community. There will have “little guide” to help explain about the nature of mangrove forest.

“It is expected that some 1,000 visitors will enter to this area this year. There also has an idea to establish community fund as its working capital to further operate the learning center in the future,” said Mr.Sujint.

Mr.Teerut Teeravuttipun, Director of the Conservation of Mangroves Resources and Wild Coast Unit, said the problem of coastal erosion in Rayong is quite serious about 30% of total land area. Without any conservation and restoration, Thailand land will gradually lost its land areas and some marine animals living nearly coastal. This will also directly affect to people’s way of living particularly food resources and fishing area to survive the community. 

“The establishment of the learning center is the right practice to inspire people to more conserve mangrove forest,” said Mr.Teerat.

Mr.Chairat Auetrakul, Mayor of Paknamprasae Subdistrict Municipality, said the conservation and restoration mangroves forest under CPF’s project had created new tourist destination in Rayong. The CPF mangrove ecosystem learning centre of mangroves has been designed to allow not only tourist closer to nature but also to learn more on environment especially local plants and animals. The learning center has been divided into 9 stations including animal’s natural living, supply chain at coast, fish and others. The center open daily between 8.00 am to 6.00 pm with free of charge./