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Greening the Country with Our Own Hands |
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Temple and People Cooperation Project (1991-1997)
Known as places of peace and tranquility, temples have always been islands of sanctuary to Thai people. Through planting trees in temple’s ground, the Foundation aimed to create green sanctuaries for both urban and rural communities as well as to strengthen reciprocal relationship between monks and laity in Thai society.
In 1991, the foundations together with the Secretarial of the Sangha Supreme Council, the Royal Thai Army, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives organized the first tree tributes to temples around the country. Perennial trees and trees of religious significance such as, Bodhi and Sala trees were specifically chosen for the tributes. The event involved 2,000 monks and completed with great success.
From 1992-1994, 247 more temples received tree tributes from the Foundation, in 1995 and 1996, as a tribute to HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 50th coronation anniversary, the foundation offered Bodhi trees along with 50,000 trees of religious significance as tributes to more than 1,000 temples all over Thailand. And, in 1997, to honour and celebrate the Supreme Abbot’s 84th birthday, the foundation in co-operation with the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, the Ministry of Education and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration offered 10,000 herbal plants to 33 temples.
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Planting trees in high salinity soil experiment (1994-present)
Saline soil is a major obstacle to agriculture in the Northeastern region of Thailand, thus in 1994, the foundation together with the Royal Forest Department, the Royal Irrigation Department and various organizations carried out a tree planting experiment in 212 rais of high salinity soil area of Maha Sarakham province. The result of the experiment was very satisfying. The area is now able to grow some perennial trees such as, Manila Tamarind, Acacia Mangium, Samania Saman, and certain types of grass such as, Dixie grass. Further research in soil and water qualities is being carried out by both state and private organizations. The experiment is also opened to general public for educational purposes.
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Mangrove forest conservation project (1999-present)
In the recent years, people have transformed mangrove forests into shrimp farms, mines, roads, and industrial estates. These changes have reduced mangrove forests to almost incalculable levels despite the forests’ invaluable benefits to the ecosystem. Concern for the effect of destroyed mangrove forests upon the environment has brought the foundation to set up mangrove reforestation project on two sites of Samut Prakan’s coastal areas. The rehabilitation of the forests aims to restore balanced ecosystems to the two sites, and to revive natural nursery grounds for sea animals. The 272 rais of the project has shown 80% success thus far.
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Hometown Revival projects (2001-present)
Started as a pilot project in 2001, this reforestation project aims to create jobs for poor villagers in rural areas by hiring them to plant and look after trees in degraded forests or cleared areas. The villagers receive necessary trainings from experts in the field and were regularly evaluated by the Foundation’s officers. The project does no only increase green areas and other natural resources, but also create community strength, pride in their achievement and environmental awareness in their people. At present, there are 3 pilot projects in the Northeast of Thailand creating almost 2,000 rais of rainforests along with incomes for 249 families.
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