Forest Planting Yields More than Just Trees
The Beginning of PTT’s Permanent Forest Restoration Project in Honor of His Majesty, Covering 1 Million Rai
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PTT’s environmental efforts began in earnest in 1994 when the company undertook the task of planting 1 million rai of forest, out of a national target of 5 million rai, as part of the "Permanent Forest Restoration Project in Honor of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great on His 50th Year of Reign," initiated by the government. The project aimed to rehabilitate degraded forest areas across all regions of Thailand. These included highland forests in the North, dry dipterocarp and mixed deciduous forests on the vast plateaus of the Northeast, lowland evergreen forests in the Central and Eastern regions, and peat swamp and mangrove forests along the coasts in the South.
The forest restoration of 1 million rai took place between 1994 and 2002. Its success would not have been possible without the continued support and participation of government agencies and local communities living near the reforestation sites. Ensuring the long-term survival of these planted forests was crucial, and community involvement in maintaining these forests was key to their sustainable growth.
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| The FPT49 Plantation Plot in Pak Thong Chai District, Nakhon Ratchasima, in 1997 |
The FPT49 plantation plot has become a symbol of national pride and an inspiration for Thais to conserve and protect forests. On July 14, 1997, His Majesty King Vajiralongkorn, then the Crown Prince, planted the "100 millionth" Padauk tree at the FPT49 plantation. During this event, community representatives were given the opportunity to place tools and weapons used for illegal logging and hunting at the foot of the tree, pledging to protect the forest forever.
The 1-million-rai Permanent Forest Restoration Project has not only rehabilitated previously destroyed forests and restored a total of 1,043,230 rai of green space to the country but also heightened awareness about the importance of natural resources and the environment. This project led to the creation of forest conservation networks across the country. These networks, alongside environmental partnerships focused on soil, water, and forest conservation, have had a lasting impact. One such initiative, the "Green Globe Award," was established in 1999 and continues to honor individuals, communities, and youth who have contributed to forest conservation. The project also extended to promoting the use of vetiver grass, a royal initiative, to foster knowledge-sharing and link conservation networks, facilitated by the Green Globe Institute.
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| The FPT29 Plantation Plot in Pranburi District, Prachuap Khiri Khan, in 2002 |
Forests planted as part of this initiative have grown and contributed to the country. Research by the Kasetsart University Forestry Research Center shows that the forests planted by PTT since 1994 absorb an average of 2.14 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, generating benefits worth over 280 million baht annually. These forests remain over 80% intact, thanks to the combined efforts of government agencies and local communities. They also support local livelihoods, enhancing the quality of life and the economy in communities surrounding the reforested areas.
PTT's Goal Toward Net Zero Emissions
Thailand has committed to achieving Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions, and PTT has set a goal to reach Net Zero Emissions by 2050. As part of this long-term goal, PTT plans to plant an additional 1 million rai of forest to contribute to Thailand's Net Zero society.
PTT – Igniting Life, Reviving the Forest
This new initiative aims to restore ecosystems and increase carbon absorption through natural processes, helping PTT achieve Net Zero emissions by 2050. PTT also aims to plant another 1 million rai of forest in collaboration with its group companies, bringing the total to 2 million rai by 2030. Including the original 1 million rai planted in honor of His Majesty, PTT Group will manage over 3 million rai of reforested land, which is expected to absorb about 20% of PTT's total greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to over 4.15 million tons of carbon dioxide per year. Additionally, PTT will register these reforested areas under Thailand's voluntary greenhouse gas reduction program (T-VER) to ensure the scientific rigor and standardization of the reforestation efforts and seek certification for its Corporate Carbon Footprint (CFO) from the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization. |
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Furthermore, the restored forests will provide ecosystem services, acting as watersheds, promoting biodiversity, and supporting social capital and local economic development.
PTT's Reforestation and Ecology Institute
With over 25 years of experience, PTT’s reforestation project has evolved into the PTT Reforestation and Ecology Institute. The institute continues the mission of the 1-million-rai project while advancing sustainability efforts in ecosystem and environmental conservation, all contributing to the goal of Net Zero emissions. The institute also serves as a center for forest and ecosystem restoration research and learning, promoting environmental awareness through its three learning centers:- Urban Forest Learning Center, Bangkok
- Sirinath Rajini Mangrove Ecosystem Learning Center, Prachuap Khiri Khan
- Wangchan Forest Learning Center, Rayong
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| Urban Forest Learning Center, Bangkok |
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| Sirinath Rajini Mangrove Ecosystem Learning Center, Prachuap Khiri Khan |
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| Wangchan Forest Learning Center, Rayong |
In 2023, these three nature learning centers were honored with prestigious awards in the Thailand Tourism Awards (Kinaree Awards) across various categories, including the Excellence in Learning Tourism and Low-Carbon Tourism for Sustainability. In the same year, the three centers welcomed a total of 63,176 visitors, generating an annual income of 688,526 THB for the surrounding communities. They also contributed to the sequestration of 6,554.87 tons of CO2 equivalent per year and played a significant role in fostering positive relationships that promote environmental conservation and restoration.
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| Wangchan Forest Learning Center, Rayong |
Progress in Promoting Conservation and Restoration of Natural Resources and the Environment
Participation in Expanding and Restoring Green Areas in OUR Khung Bang Kachao Project
PTT has collaborated with The Chaipattana Foundation, private sector networks, government agencies, public sectors, and educational institutions to continuously restore green areas in Khung Bang Kachao. An agreement was signed to cooperate in the development and restoration of green spaces in the royal property under the care of the Royal Forest Department. This includes the Metropolitan Central Park Project in Phra Pradaeng District, Samut Prakan Province, a collaboration between the OUR Khung Bang Kachao Project by the Chaipattana Foundation and the Royal Forest Department, and an agreement to restore green spaces and manage learning at the King Rama IX Commemoration Park in Song Khanong Subdistrict, Phra Pradaeng District, Samut Prakan Province, between the Royal Forest Department and PTT. In 2023, PTT continued to fulfill these agreements by developing and managing the King Rama IX Commemoration Park as a learning resource. PTT also supported the green space operations of the OUR Khung Bang Kachao Project, restoring and maintaining 1,276 rai (about 203 hectares) of green space on royal land and developing nine private plots totaling 51 rai (about 8 hectares) into model agricultural areas.The green space in Khung Bang Kachao has shown an increasing trend, with satellite imagery revealing more than 6,000 rai (about 960 hectares) of green space. The surrounding community, consisting of 305 households, has benefited from a total income distribution of approximately 2.8 million THB.
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Leading in the Green Globe Award and Institute
The Green Globe Award Project was established in 1999 after participating in the Royal Forest Plantation Project. From this experience, it was found that sustainable reforestation requires cultivating environmental awareness in people's hearts. Therefore, the Green Globe Award was created to recognize individuals, communities, and youth groups with outstanding achievements in forest and environmental conservation, to honor and encourage their efforts. |
Later, the Green Globe Award was elevated to the Green Globe Institute to continue recognizing and promoting environmental achievements. The institute has expanded its mission to develop research networks and manage knowledge from Green Globe Award-winning projects. These successful conservation and environmental management models are beneficial for application and expansion, helping other communities adapt more effectively to changes.
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| For more information visit official website at https://www.greenglobeinstitute.com |
Green Globe Award
The Green Globe Institute announced the 21st Green Globe Awards under the theme "Sufficiency, Sharing, Connection: Soil, Water, Forest," recognizing 44 environmental conservation efforts across Thailand in seven categories. These categories include eight community awards, three individual awards, eight youth group awards, 13 awards in the Sipanon Ketutat category, two awards for youth essays (under 15 years old), six awards for youth essays (ages 16–25), three awards for writing, and one award for media work.In 2023, PTT extended knowledge from model areas to other community networks, disseminating information to the public and organizing knowledge-sharing forums across four regions. The institute's board members also served as lecturers, applying the knowledge from award-winning projects to various environmental initiatives and supporting new reforestation efforts.
Vetiver Grass Network
PTT has collaborated with partner organizations to continuously promote and develop the use of vetiver grass as part of the Royal Initiative. This project aims to uphold and advance the royal initiative of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej in using vetiver grass for soil and water conservation. As a result, the use and planting of vetiver grass have become widespread among the public, at both regional and national levels. The initiative has established learning centers for educational institutions, domestic and international organizations, especially among farmers who are increasingly aware of the benefits of planting vetiver grass. Additionally, these efforts have led to the formation of the Vetiver Lovers Network, which works to drive soil and water conservation efforts and to develop products that generate income and grow into community enterprises. |