KKU and EGAT kick off participatory reforestation in Khon Kaen
12 October 2022Khon Kaen University joined hands with EGAT to kick off the Participatory Reforestation Project in Khon Kaen Province, planting 160 Pink Cassia trees surrounding Khon Kaen University in order to build a model area of participatory sustainable forest in educational institutions, efficiently support research on agricultural and forestry technology, and disseminate knowledge to the society.
On October 12, 2022, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, President of Khon Kaen University (KKU); Dr. Jiraporn Sirikum, Deputy Governor – Power Business of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT); executives; and students joined the event to kick off the Participatory Reforestation Project by planting 160 Pink Cassia trees along the fence line of Khon Kaen University to increase green areas and absorb carbon dioxide at Pho Mo Din Daeng Shrine, Khon Kaen University.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul said that the cooperation between KKU and EGAT under the Participatory Reforestation Project is in line with KKU’s mission to become a green university and develop a model area of participatory sustainable forest in educational institutions by planting forest trees, herbs, and other economic plants, as well as increasing permanent forest areas in communities and advancing agricultural and forestry technology to create community participation in growing and nourishing seedlings with efficiency.
Dr. Jiraporn Sirikum added that this Participatory Reforestation Project with KKU is an important beginning for both organizations to work together to plant forests continuously. The goal is to increase green areas and restore the abundance of the ecosystem, to create participation of the community in planting and managing the forest sustainably, as well as to support the development of knowledge on agricultural technology in order to raise community’s quality of life in the economic and social aspects. EGAT’s Participatory Reforestation Project aims to plant forests totaling an area of one million rai within 10 years (2022-2031), including conservation forest, community forest, economic forest, and mangrove forest. The project will absorb and store carbon dioxide of more than 1.2 million tons per year, and it is expected to absorb and store a total of around 23.6 million tons CO2e throughout the project duration to help achieve Thailand’s carbon neutrality by 2050.
