CP Foods has joined hands with Wat Chang Lang School in Trang Province, to drive marine conservation through the "Seagrass Learning Center," a powerful model of community-based environmental education and action.

On a recent weekend, students from Wat Chang Lang School gathered at Pak Meng Pier, located in Hat Chao Mai National Park, to plant seagrass they had nurtured themselves at the school's learning center. The activity, supported by park rangers who provided hands-on guidance, aims to restore critical habitats and food sources for dugongs, an endangered marine species that has become a symbol of Trang.

"I love planting seagrass with my friends. I hope the seagrass we grow will help marine animals thrive, especially dugongs. Seagrass also improves water quality and helps reduce pollution. A healthy ocean means more fish and income for local fishermen," shared Kanokwadi Tho-kaew, or “Gor-Ya,” a Grade 5 student who actively participated in the planting.

Hat Chao Mai National Park established Thailand’s first dugong conservation zone in 2017, covering 1,300 rai (over 500 acres) around Pak Meng Beach. This initiative reflects the urgent need to protect dugongs and their fragile habitat.

The Seagrass Learning Center at Wat Chang Lang School plays a vital role in advancing this mission. The initiative is a collaborative effort between government agencies, schools, communities, civil society, and private sector partners, including CP Foods. The center promotes hands-on environmental education, encouraging youth to grow and transplant seagrass while learning about its role in biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and marine nursery grounds.

Sutjai Tangkeeree, the school’s director, emphasized the long-term benefits: “Over the past six years, our efforts have improved local marine productivity, increasing catches of shrimp, shellfish, crabs, and fish. This has had a direct positive impact on local livelihoods while nurturing environmental responsibility in our students.”

CP Foods’ Southern Shrimp Nursery Business plays a crucial role by providing technical support and materials to the school. The company donated water tanks, upgraded water and electrical systems, and renovated the seagrass nursery facility. With a capacity to propagate over 5,000 seagrass branches annually, the center has also started selling young seagrass plants to other conservation units, creating a sustainable income stream.

“We aim to make this a regional hub for seagrass education and marine ecosystem restoration,” said WORAWAT MUNRIEN, Assistant Director at CP Foods’Shrimp Nursery Business Southern 2. “We’re developing training curricula that include seagrass propagation techniques, water management, and even algae cultivation—so students can create value-added products and explore new income opportunities.”

Today, the Seagrass Learning Center at Wat Chang Lang School stands as a beacon of environmental education, attracting students and visitors eager to learn and contribute to coastal restoration. This successful collaboration across sectors reflects CP Foods’ commitment to fostering sustainability and protecting Thailand’s marine biodiversity.

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