Dr. Chana Poomee, Chairman of the Thai Cement Manufacturers Association (TCMA), along with the TCMA Executive Board and 100 staff members, supported the Royal Thai Air Force’s initiative to implement “NKRAFA: Unite for Increasing Green Space” at Navaminda Kasatriyadhiraj Royal Air Force Academy (NKRAFA) in Muak Lek District, Saraburi Province. This initiative commemorates His Majesty the King’s 6th cycle birthday anniversary. Air Chief Marshal Phanpakdee Pattanakul and Saraburi Governor Buncha Chaovarin presided over the launching ceremony of the planting of 2,567 trees to increase green space at NKRAFA as part of the SARABURI SANDBOX LOW CARBON CITY.
Dr. Chana Poomee noted that this initiative presents a significant opportunity for the public, private, and academic sectors, as well as the people of Saraburi, to express their love and gratitude for His Majesty King Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua’s generosity on his 72nd birthday. The initiative follows His Majesty’s royal guidelines and determination to preserve the ecosystem and maintain natural balance by increasing green space.
TCMA members have formed a team of experts in area management, reforestation, and biodiversity to collaborate with the NKRAFA team and the Royal Forest Department. Every step of the project is a joint effort, from designing an area-based project, planning, preparing the area and seedlings, planting trees, laying out the water system, to maintaining and monitoring results to ensure the project’s progress and success.
“TCMA and its members, including all cement manufacturers in Thailand, are honoured to be part of this cooperation and are ready to support the “NKRAFA: Unite for Increasing Green Space.” This is one of the important collaborations of all sectors to increase green space and serve as a significant carbon sink in Saraburi, further advancing the SARABURI SANDBOX LOW CARBON CITY. This will transform Saraburi into a green city, support the country’s greenhouse gas reduction policy, create benefits for the community and society, and build a sustainable environment,” Dr. Chana said.
Governor Buncha Chaovarin of Saraburi emphasised the province’s key environmental agenda, which includes the management, care, and conservation of the environment, the expansion of green space, and the SARABURI SANDBOX LOW CARBON CITY Project. These initiatives will increase greenhouse gas absorption through natural means, greatly benefiting the people of Saraburi Province.
“On behalf of Saraburi Province, I would like to thank the Royal Thai Air Force, led by Air Chief Marshal Phanpakdee Pattanakul, and the Navaminda Kasatriyadhiraj Royal Air Force Academy (NKRAFA) for their continued commitment to increasing green space and initiating the “NKRAFA: Unite for Increasing Green Space.” I also extend my appreciation to the heads of government agencies in Saraburi Province, the public sector, the private sector, the academic sector, as well as the students who have joined together to plant trees today. This initiative will increase green space, create cool shade, trap dust and air pollution, and help reduce global warming,” said Governor Buncha.
Air Vice Marshal Thatchai Achariyakaroon, Commandant of the Navaminda Kasatriyadhiraj Royal Air Force Academy (NKRAFA), stated that the project “NKRAFA: Unite for Increasing Green Space” embraces the King’s philosophy of sufficiency economy and planting forests in people’s hearts, along with the Royal Thai Air Force’s quick wins policy on promoting environmental protection.
“The three-year goal (2024 – 2027) of the project is based on the principles of ‘Three Forests, Four Benefits’ and integrated soil, water, and forest restoration. Today marks the pilot planting of 2,567 trees in a total area of 25 rai to increase green space around Buddhasathan. This includes: 1) 20 rai in front of the Buddhasathan Chedi, which will grow wild plants, perennials, and flowering plants; 2) 2 rai north of the Buddhasathan Chedi, which will grow plants related to Buddhism and important indigenous plants; and 3) 3 rai at the water reservoir, which will be a demonstration plot for growing vetiver grass around the edge. In the next phase, green space will be expanded to cover other areas of NKRAFA,” Air Vice Marshal Thatchai said.
Air Marshal Phanpakdee Pattanakul, Royal Thai Air Force Commander-in-Chief, presided over the opening ceremony of the “NKRAFA: Unite for Increasing Green Space” and highlighted that this collaboration is taking place in an auspicious year when the Thai people show their loyalty to His Majesty the King. This brings the integration and cooperation of public-private-people partnership (PPP) to increase green space in Saraburi Province, as part of the SARABURI SANDBOX LOW CARBON CITY, with the goal of upgrading Saraburi Province to a green city, supporting the country’s greenhouse gas reduction policy, providing clean air to Thais, and eventually creating environmental balance for the next generation.
