EGAT keeps planting forests to expand green area in Krabi Province and promote community engagement in ecosystem restoration
13 July 2023Krabi Province, EGAT, and government agencies engaged in a tree planting activity in Krabi Province as part of the “Participatory One-Million-Rai Reforestation Project.” It aims to restore the abundance of the ecosystem as well as foster community participation in sustainable reforestation, to achieve EGAT Carbon Neutrality by 2050.
On July 11, 2023 at Krabi Power Plant in Krabi Province, Mr. Passakorn Bunyalak, Governor of Krabi Province and Mr. Prasertsak Cherngchawano, Deputy Governor – Strategy of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), jointly planted trees under the “Participatory One-Million-Rai Reforestation Project.” Its objective is to restore the ecosystem abundance; promote the quality of life, including economic and social aspects, for local people; and enhance carbon sequestration capacity through community participation in sustainable forest planting and management, to support the achievement of EGAT Carbon Neutrality by 2050.
Mr. Passakorn Bunyalak, Governor of Krabi Province, revealed that the “Participatory One-Million-Rai Reforestation Project” is one of the significant projects that align with the climate change mitigation policy, provide the benefits of carbon absorption, and involve collaboration from all parties. This project promotes ecosystem restoration while also enhancing quality of life for the community, both on economic and social aspects. Moreover, its success can serve as a model for other areas in the future.
Mr. Prasertsak Cherngchawano, EGAT Deputy Governor – Strategy added that EGAT has a strategy in natural resource, environment, and energy sustainability, which aligns with the Carbon Neutrality policy. Implementing the “Participatory One-Million-Rai Reforestation Project,” EGAT aims at planting 100,000 rai (approximately 16,000 hectares) of forests per year for a period of 10 years, from 2022 to 2031, followed by 9 years of continuous maintenance. This project is expected to absorb and store carbon dioxide more than 1.2 million tons annually and around 23 million tons throughout the project duration.
This forest planting activity is a collaborative effort in EGAT’s Southern Region. It has the objective to plant forests in Krabi Province, which is considered a strategic area for the reforestation project as both terrestrial and mangrove forests exist. The forest planting has taken place in the area of Krabi Power Plant which is EGAT’s operational site. Since 1997 until now, EGAT has already planted over 1,000 rai of forests in Krabi Province. For this activity, an additional 17,500 trees were planted in an area of 74.2 rai, consisting of eight different species, namely Yellow Star, Yang, Takian, Thungfa, Mahogany, Long Sheath Bamboo, Silver Trumpet, and Yellow Bell. Furthermore, from 1995 to 2021, EGAT carried out forest planting activities nationwide covering an area of around 470,000 rai, with a cumulative carbon dioxide absorption capacity of approximately 13 million tons. EGAT is committed to carrying on reforestation project to achieve the project’s goal.
