Siam Kubota works on reforesting Thailand's mangrove forests

[Lite Beer]

Siam Kubota works on reforesting Thailand's mangrove forests
The Nation


More than 1,400 Siam Kubota Corporation members of staff and their families join in the photo session.

BANGKOK: -- Firm's reforestation project aims at planting 10,000 trees in coastal areas

Mangrove forests are important for coastal areas and a valuable resource to sustain the economy and environment of the country. However, Thailand's mangrove forest areas have declined in recent years and are likely to decrease further.

Siam Kubota Corporation is one company that has been paying attention to the need for environment conservation. The company organised a project called the "The First Mangrove Reforestation to Grow 100,000 trees", encouraging employees with a volunteer spirit and green conscience to help society.

Members of staff worked together to reforest tropical trees at the Royal Thai Army Natural Study Centre (Bang Pu) in Samut Prakan province.

Hiroshi Kawakami, president of Siam Kubota Corp, led more than 1,400 members of staff in an effort to plant 30,000 Avicennia alba plants worth Bt600,000 at the study centre compound.

Colonel Narongrit Chantrakul accepted the trees on behalf of the Quartermaster Department of the Royal Thai Army.

Hiroshi said Siam Kubota has recognised the importance of conservation in line with the group's mission entitled "For Earth, For Life." It focuses on creating sustainable food and water resources worldwide as well as protect and maintain the environment for a sustainable future.

In addition, the company has an Employee Social Responsibility (ESR) policy to encourage its employees to take part in public-service projects to pay back society.

Previously, the company released a million fish into local waters and has been working to regnerate coral reefs since 2011.

This year, the company shifted its focus to mangrove reforestation by aiming to plant 100,000 trees, because it wants to create a sustainable green area for mangrove forests.

The project is divided into three phases in three locations as part of the plan to spread greenery nationwide.

Once the first phase is complete, the company will look for two new locations for mangrove reforestation by working with other agencies.

The company aims to have 100,000 trees planted by 2016.

Mangrove reforestation requires a huge effort by workers to plant trees in the coastal area.

In the first of the three phases, 30,000 trees will be planted. And then another 35,000 saplings will be planted in the second and third phases.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Siam-Kubota-works-on-reforesting-Thailands-mangrov-30245962.html

-- The Nation 2014-10-26

[draftvader]

Well done Siam Kubota. A lot more needs to be done but this is a start. Keep pushing your contemporaries to do this too and eventually there will be enough happening for the government to take the lead (and some of the glory....but who cares as long as its happening!).

[Cloggie]

Who will follow?

[noitom]

This is a good Thai company

[Robby nz]

Well done Siam Kubota. A lot more needs to be done but this is a start. Keep pushing your contemporaries to do this too and eventually there will be enough happening for the government to take the lead (and some of the glory....but who cares as long as its happening!).

There is a lot of reforestation being done that you never hear about.

All the national parks and botanical gardens have nursery areas where seedlings and saplings are grown for planting out, I have seen this myself and recently posted a photo of a small part of one such nursery area in the photo pages.

There are also projects to breed and reintroduce rare and endangered birds (and some animals) into the national parks.

I was present at one such release of Red Jungle Foul and these birds :

Jones Silver Pheasant.

The people who do these things don't do it for glory just as part of their job.

[Ombra]

This is a story worth reading. One hundred thousand trees is an impressive number. Congratulations to Siam Kubota!

[Mudcrab]

^^

do any of the above posters actually know what a mangrove is? And where it grows?

[Robby nz]

^^

do any of the above posters actually know what a mangrove is? And where it grows?

Yes, no doubt a mudcrab would as well.

[AleG]

Mangroves are, arguably, the most important ecosystem in Thailand, the protect against coastal erosion, clean land runoff, are a breeding ground for many fish species and of course, multitude of land animals too. Those trees are unique in what they do and were they live, there's no substitute that would do the same.

I've stayed in a couple resorts were they get it, and integrate the mangroves into their location, or rather integrate the resort into the location. It may not be as good as a pristine forest, but it's a hell of a lot better than chopping the lot down and plonking a generic infinity edge pool in front of the beach where people can soak in and relax as they overlook the coastal reef silting to death.

Anyway, too much ranting. Do they accept volunteers, anyone knows?

[Robby nz]

Mangroves are, arguably, the most important ecosystem in Thailand, the protect against coastal erosion, clean land runoff, are a breeding ground for many fish species and of course, multitude of land animals too. Those trees are unique in what they do and were they live, there's no substitute that would do the same.

I've stayed in a couple resorts were they get it, and integrate the mangroves into their location, or rather integrate the resort into the location. It may not be as good as a pristine forest, but it's a hell of a lot better than chopping the lot down and plonking a generic infinity edge pool in front of the beach where people can soak in and relax as they overlook the coastal reef silting to death.

Anyway, too much ranting. Do they accept volunteers, anyone knows?

The great problem with volunteering as a farang is that according to law you need a work permit.

You can always try without but it only needs one disaffected type to report you to immigration and they could withdraw your permission to stay (visa).

Personally I would love to volunteer for several things (have been asked) but is it worth the risk ?

I want to stay here so in my opinion no.

[northernjohn]

Great news and where do the average Thai Visa posters go. Off to bash Thais and find fault with every thing that is not like in their home country. Pretty well shows where the average TV poster is coming from. Great news about a very important thing to the coast line of Thailand and they ignore it. Only one comes over to make a snide remark.

This along with the long range plan to reforest the land so we have 40% of the land forested is great news. Are grandchildren will be given the chance to see what Thailand was like before the neglect and illegal encroachment started in.