EGAT kicks off ‘economic forest’ reforestation project in Nan Province, a step towards Carbon Neutrality
31 January 2022EGAT held a tree-planting activity of economic forest in Nan Province, a part of the ‘Participatory Reforestation Project’ to create sustainability of natural resources, environment, and energy; a way to move towards EGAT Carbon Neutrality by 2050. On this occasion, EGAT also transferred green classrooms to 15 schools under the royal patronage, to raise awareness of power and environmental conservation among students.
On January 28, 2022 at Santi Suk District in Nan Province, Mr. Kulit Sombatsiri, Permanent Secretary of the Energy Ministry and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) chaired the opening ceremony of the ‘economic forest’ tree-planting activity under the ‘Participatory Reforestation Project,’ which aims to solve air quality issues, tackle on-going climate change, and increase green space to absorb CO2. The event was also attended by Mr. Kritpetch Petcharaburanin, Vice Governor of Nan Province; Mr. Boonyanit Wongrukmit, EGAT Governor; Mr. Chidchanok Sukmongkol, Director of Protected Areas Regional Office 13, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation; EGAT senior executives; government agencies; partners; students; and locals totaling 200 persons.
The Permanent Secretary, Energy Ministry said that the Government and the Ministry of Energy have improved climate change policies to drive Thailand to achieve Carbon Neutrality by 2050 and Net Zero Emissions by 2065-2070. To respond to the policies, EGAT’s Participatory Reforestation Project can be implemented timely to absorb and capture CO2, as well as to compensate for CO2 emissions from electricity generation. The goal will be achieved by the collaboration of all sectors for the better future of the country and all Thais.
EGAT Governor added that EGAT’s Participatory Reforestation Project has been implemented in response to the government’s policies, with an aim to plant trees in a total area of 1 million rai throughout 10 years, during 2022-2031. The reforestation project will cover conservation forest, community forest, economic forest, and mangrove forest to absorb and capture 1.2 million tons of CO2 per year. Moreover, EGAT has a maintenance plan of forest plantations until 2040 by the cooperation of local people and partners to monitor the survival and growth rate of the trees, together with monitoring technologies.
This tree-planting program in Nan Province covers an area of 19 rai of economic forest at Bann Phong, Santi Suk District. Prior to this program, EGAT and its partners implemented the reforestation project in Nan Province from 1994-2018, comprising national reserved forest, headwaters forest, and community forest totaling 105,800 rai that has covered 12 districts and absorbed 100,000 tons of CO2.
Apart from participating in the tree-planting activity, Permanent Secretary of the Energy Ministry and EGAT Governor delivered green classrooms for 15 schools under the Royal Patronage of Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn to Mr. Terdsak Chaipong, Deputy Secretary-General of Basic Education Commission, at Ratchapiyorasa Yuparachanusorn School in Tha Wang Pha District, Nan Province. The green classrooms provide knowledge about energy and environmental conservation to the students who will further disseminate it to their families and communities. The combination of on-site and virtual learning activities under the green classroom project can enhance knowledge sharing among various schools to promote sustainable society of wisdom.