Reforestation campaign to mark King’s birthday

BANGKOK, July 25 (TNA) – State and private sectors have teamed up to conduct a reforestation campaign to mark the 65th birthday anniversary of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn and the 85th birthday anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit in the Reign o King Rama 9. Chalermchai Papatham, Deputy Director of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plants said the department in collaboration with the Broadcasters and Columnists Club of Thailand, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) and Thailand Environment Institute Foundation launched the second campaign this year. The tree planting is scheduled on Aug 13-14 on eight acres of land in the Doi Pachang wildlife sanctuary in Pong district of Phayao to preserve and revive the head watershed, flowing into the Yom River. Tree species to be planted include Siamese Sal and Burmese Rosewood. The government plans to increase forest areas of at least 86 million rai (34 million acres) in the next 20 years. There are about six million rai (2.4 million acres) of deteriorated forest areas in the country and about 100,000 rai (40,000 acres) of forest lands have been encroached by local villagers. Apart from the reforestation, the government will also help local people on highland in agricultural development to solve the problem of forest encroachment. (TNA)