Wednesday marked the International Day for Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, a day of significance that saw an encouraging announcement made by Thailand’s Natural Resources and Environment Minister, Varawut Silpa-archa. He proudly declared that the nation’s steadfast commitment to environmental protection had lead to an expansion of the country’s mangrove cover by 200,000 rai since 2014.
Validating this claim, satellite images sourced from the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda) unveiled that clear increments in mangrove forests have been made in the recent past. Current records show that Thailand’s mangrove forests span out over 1.74 million rai. This is a heartening growth from the 1.53 million rai recorded back in 2014.
Still, the minister communicated that there’s much more ground to cover, the ultimate objective being to cover 40% of the nation’s expanse in mangrove and other forests. This goal aligns with Thailand’s ambition to achieve a net-zero climate impact by 2065. “We have set our sights on reforesting, rehabilitating, and conserving our mangroves. Achieving this requires a collective effort from all sectors in Thailand,” expressed Silpa-archa.
In earnestly calling for citizens’ cooperation, Silpa-archa also took the time to extend moral support toward the diligent officials who consistently safeguard the mangrove ecosystem’s fertility. In this dialogue, he revealed that Thailand stands as the fifth Southeast Asian nation with the most considerable area blanketed by mangroves.
To commemorate the globally recognized conservation day, The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) released a statement of significance on its platform. Observance of this crucial day began in 2015 and continues to be celebrated every 26th of July. Its intent remains to drive global awareness on the importance of maintaining mangroves, which Unesco describes as “a unique, special, and vulnerable ecosystem”.
In their statement, Unesco goes on to illuminate the manifold benefits of mangroves. “Their existence on the cusp of land and sea births an exceptionally prolific ecosystem. They are the lifeblood of coastal communities, contributing to their overall welfare, food sustenance, and safety against coastal adversities. Mangroves play a critical role in sheltering a rich diversity of species, while also providing valuable nursery habitats for fish and crustaceans. Furthermore, they function as natural obstructions against coastal threats like storm surges, tsunamis, sea-level rise, and erosion. Their soil also plays a significant role as carbon sinks, absorbing vast amounts of carbon.”
Data distributed by Unesco reveal a troubling fact: mangroves, despite their importance, are vanishing at a rate that is triple to quintuple the pace of deforestation globally. This hints at an urgent need to educate societies, especially younger generations, about the indispensability of mangroves and the urgency of their conservation.
As part of an effort to instill these values, Unesco Bangkok successfully conducted an educational field trip in 2020 to the Salakphet Mangrove Walkway on Koh Chang. The excursion saw environmental experts sharing insights with young attendees and other participants, driving them toward their own initiatives focused on environmental concerns, innovations, and sustainability.
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