EGAT joins hands with 4 universities and OVEC to execute reforestation project, restoring ecosystem and improving quality of life with technologies
23 June 2022EGAT proceeds with Participatory Reforestation Project by joining hands with four universities and OVEC to restore ecosystem in four regions of Thailand and supports research on carbon sequestration to improve the quality of life, economy, and society with agricultural and forest technologies, with the aim to achieve the country’s goal of Carbon Neutrality.
On June 22, 2022, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), four universities, and the Office of Vocational Education Commission (OVEC) signed the cooperative agreement on Participatory Reforestation Project at the Auditorium, EGAT 50th Anniversary Building, EGAT Headquarters in Nonthaburi Province. The agreement signatories were Mr. Boonyanit Wongrukmit, Governor of EGAT; Dr. Suthep Kaengsanthia, Secretary of OVEC; Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, President of Khon Kaen University; Asst. Prof. Dr. Niwat Keawpradub, President of Prince of Songkla University; Asst. Prof. Dr. Nikhom Laemsak, Vice President of Kasetsart University; and Asst. Prof. Dr. Nat Vorayos, Vice President of Chiang Mai University.
Mr. Boonyanit Wongrukmit said that the Participatory Reforestation Project is one of EGAT strategies to achieve Carbon Neutrality in response to the country’s policy. Under the project, EGAT aims to plant trees in a total area of 1 million rai throughout 10 years and maintain the forest for another nine years, to absorb and capture 1.2 million tons of CO2 per year. However, to achieve the goal, the cooperation of partners from various sectors, including academic institutes, is needed.
The cooperation between EGAT and the four universities, namely Khon Kaen University, Songkla University, Kasetsart University, and Chiang Mai University will restore abundance of terrestrial and marine ecosystems, develop agricultural and forest technologies which include research on improvement of carbon capture efficiency, and promote community participation in reforestation and forest management. Moreover, EGAT will collaborate with OVEC to rehabilitate forest ecosystem by supporting the propagation of plants, promoting reforestation in four regions, and building on knowledge of agricultural technology to expand agricultural lands and forests. The collaborations aim at restoring environment and improving the quality of life in the dimensions of economy and society sustainably.