Uniting Forces of Volunteers for Marine Conservation in Honor of Princess Sirivannavari

All 26 marine national parks in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea have organized activities to unite forces of volunteers for marine conservation, in honor of Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya on the occasion of Her Royal Highness’ s birthday.

The day of 8 January is the birthday of Princess Sirivannavari, who initiated sustainable marine resource conservation in Thailand because of her concerns about marine life being damaged by human activities. The Princess is the Chairperson of the Thai Coral Reef and Marine Life Conservation Foundation, aimed at enhancing cooperation among various sectors in marine resource conservation through related projects and activities.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Suchart Chomklin assigned the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation to carry out conservation activities with volunteers in response to the initiative of Her Royal Highness on marine conservation. 

These activities include beach clean-ups, underwater waste collection around coral reefs, and the release of marine species into their natural habitat in marine national parks and forest parks nationwide.

A “big cleaning” campaign was also launched in various national parks, such as Hat Wanakon in Prachuap Khiri Khan, Sirinat in Phuket, Hat Noppharat Thara – Mu Ko Phi Phi in Krabi, Than Sadet – Ko Pha-ngan in Surat Thani, Mu Ko Ranong in Ranong, and Ao Manao – Khao Tanyong in Narathiwat.

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, in its proactive operations, focuses on five major areas, namely (1) conservation of rare marine animals and those on the verge of extinction, such as dugongs, sea turtles, and dolphins, (2) rehabilitation of coral reefs and sea fans, (3) marine debris management, (4) effective public relations, and (5) awareness raising.

The department also aims to encourage communities and the general public to be aware of the importance of natural resource conservation and to join hands in protecting seas and marine life. This will also keep Thailand’s marine tourist sites clean and beautiful at all times.

Source: PRD Thailand
https://thailand.prd.go.th/en/content/category/detail/id/48/iid/463824