Fan Palm: The Reservation and Restoration of Native Plants for Sustainability
The Center for Academic Services (CAS) of Walailak University supports and promotes the sustainable utilization of native plants by conducting research titled “Fan Palm: The Reservation and Restoration of Native Plants for Sustainability in Nakhon Si Thammarat. The research was part of the Royal Plant Genetic Conservation Project under the Royal Initiation of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (RSPG), which aimed to explore and collect data on the local wisdom in utilizing fan palms in Nakhon Si Thammarat. The research also contributed to engaging with local people to raise awareness about the conservation of fan palms.
The targeted areas of the research were three subdistricts in Nakhon Si Thammarat, including Thung Po subdistrict, Hin Tok subdistrict, and Hua Taphan subdistrict. In order to disseminate knowledge on the sustainable utilization of fan palms publicly, the researchers produced educational media relating to fan palm conservation on various issues, including interlocking fan palm leaf hand fans and making steamed sticky rice in fan palm leaves.
Another important event conducted by the researchers to promote the conservation and sustainable utilization of local resources was the event titled “Youth’s Forest: The Inheritance of Local Wisdom in Ban Khao Wang Community”. This event was implemented through cooperation between Walailak University and Ban Khao Wang Border Patrol Police School with the aim of disseminating knowledge to raise awareness of the value of native plants and local biodiversity in Ban Khao Wang Community, especially fan palm, which is the native plant reflecting the local ways of life in the community, both Buddhist and Islamic.
The momentous event was also consistent with the Royal Plant Genetic Conservation Project under the Royal Initiation of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (RSPG), in which all border patrol police schools have to strongly promote the conservation of local natural resources and the environment. Natural resources are considered significant for the people in Ban Khao Wang Community because they are the source of income that will expand their agricultural careers and ensure sustainable conservation of natural resources and biodiversity.
At the event, there were activities for those participants to learn and study the sustainable utilization of native plants and biodiversity, as instructed by the local scholars in Ban Khao Wang Community. The activities include:
- Hiking activities to study the native plants and biodiversity in the forest of Ban Khao Wang Community
- Studying the biodiversity of fan palms and the multilayer cropping system
- Learning the sustainable utilization of natural resources in making steamed sticky rice by using fan palm leaves, crafting natural insect protection gears, crafting bowls by using Areca spathe, and propagating native plants
These activities can ignite inspiration among the participants to place importance on the sustainable utilization of natural resources and biodiversity for future generations.
Besides the natural resources and biodiversity conservation purposes, the research additionally contributed to improving the agriculture that supports the community’s ecosystem and the utilization of local resources to generate income and produce products from the multilayer cropping system, such as spicy cardamom chili paste, cardamom soap, and herbal inhalers.
At the moment, the community serves as a learning center for outsiders who want to learn about the sustainable utilization of native resources and ecosystems or biodiversity in the community. To proudly show the achievement in sustainability development, Ban Khao Wang Community received awards in 2017 and 2023 from the Green Globe Institute as one of the best role-model communities in the inheritance of local wisdom and natural resource conservation. These awards will generate the motivation of the people in the community to build a solid foundation to mobilize sustainable forest development.
Related Links:
https://www.wu.ac.th/index.php/th/news/22752
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https://www.wu.ac.th/th/news/22706
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https://www.greenglobeinstitute.com/Frontend/Content.aspx?ContentID=4d1b26f5-e3f3-4f75-8170-68d930a8859f
Goal 15: Life on Land