ID :
386505
Fri, 11/06/2015 - 11:53
Auther :

Lampang expands its Forest Supermarket project

LAMPANG, Nov 6 (TNA) -- Thailand's Forest Resource Management Office in the northern province of Lampang, together with a local community in the area held a forest ordination ceremony to help preserve the natural resources, expressing their readiness in moving to create a network to conserve food sources with sustainability, by turning local forests into a 'Supermarket Forest'. Director of the office Jaresak Nantawong led locals to ordain a community forest to mark HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 88th birthday anniversary on December 5. A group of monks had arrived at the forest earlier this morning to bless the ceremony, after which the participants then wrap over 100 trees with yellow cloths in a symbolic ordination, signifying that these trees are protected and would in turn help to preserve the environment as a whole. The ceremony is also aimed to create awareness among the public to help take care of nature. According to beliefs, the trees which have been ordained would become "Phaya Tonmai" or the great tree and cutting such trees down would be considered as a sin. Mr Jaresak said community forests are usually managed by the local community and the public sector under the regulations agreed with the community allowing it to use the forest for creativity. He said the province has already announced 238 forests, which cover an area of more than 64,000 acres and is the 4th largest forest area in the country as community forests, adding that to celebrate HM the King's 88th birthday this year, the province would hold a ceremony to ordain 89 community forests across the province on December 3 in his honour. Village Chief of Baan Ton Pheung, Chanthip Praison said the village posses a community forest which has an area of over 600 acres and the village has set up rules to turn the forest into a "Supermarket Forest" or a forest that if full of fertility and could be used to provide income for the local people. He said the rules also prohibit all illegal logging and those who violated it would be immediately fined 2,000 baht for each tree they cut down. (TNA)

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