(English - Part 2) King Bhumibol Adulyadej and the Conservation on Natural Resources and Environment

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His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and the Conservation on Natural Resources and Environment

Department of Environmental Quality Promotion Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment

“I am pleased to preside over the public audience for Thai citizens and all institutions.

Thank you for the congratulatory messages and grand celebrations organised especially for me.

The government has made fine preparations and Thai citizens have shown their goodwill throughout the nation.

I am gratified by today’s gathering because everyone came to express sincerity.

I am thankful for the well-wishers and the way they have acted in unison.

I feel heartened by unity and would like to remind all about some underlying principles to guide Thai citizens in joining together to preserve and develop their country to new heights of prosperity.

First, everyone should show kindness and compassion to ensure the mental and physical well-being of one another.

Second, people should strive to cooperate for the mutual benefit of oneself, others and the country.

Third, everyone should uphold honesty and observe rules and traditions with impartiality.

Fourth, everyone should adhere to righteous thinking and act reasonably.

If Thai citizens think and act in an agreeable and constructive manner, then the country will surely thrive.

Everyone in the public audience and all Thai citizens should strictly follow these principles and propagate them in perpetuity so the country can remain in peace and happiness for the present as well as the future.

May the goodness of the Buddhist Triple Gems and universal sacredness bless the country so as to overcome dangers and allow Thai citizens to live in bliss and prosperity.

”

His Majesty’s Speech 9 June 2006 The Balcony of Ananta Samakhom Throne, Dusit Palace

Members of the Royalty from 25 countries, including Kings and Queens, joined the nationwide celebration on the occasion of the Sixtieth Anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s Accession to the Throne.

Sitting from left: 1. His Serene Highness Hereditary Prince Alois, Liechtenstein 2. Her Majesty Queen Sofia, Spain 3. His Serene Highness Prince Albert II, Monaco 4. Her Majesty Tengku Fauziah binti Al-Marhum Tengku Abdul Rashid, the Raja Permaisuri Agong, Malaysia 5. His Majesty Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong XII, Malaysia

6. His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri, Luxembourg 7. Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned, Qatar 8. His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Qatar 9. His Majesty King Mswati III, Swaziland 10. Her Royal Highness Inkhosikati LaDube, Swaziland 11. Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha, Brunei Darussalam 12. His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Brunei Darussalam

13. His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej 14. Her Majesty Queen Sirikit 15. His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf, Sweden 16. Her Majesty Queen Silvia, Sweden 17. His Majesty Emperor Akihito, Japan 18. Her Majesty Empress Michiko, Japan 19. His Majesty King Letsie III, Lesotho 20. Her Majesty Queen Masenate Mohato Seeiso, Lesotho 21. His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, Jordan

22. His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Baromneath Norodom Sihamoni, Cambodia 23. His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Kuwait 24. Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Salma, Morocco 25. His Royal Highness Prince Henrik, Denmark 26. His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Bahrain Standing from left: 1. Khun Ploypailin Jensen, Thailand 2. Her Royal Highness Princess Siribhachudabhorn, Thailand 3. Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha, Thailand 4. Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawali, Thailand

5. His Highness Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Taimour Al-Said, Oman 6. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates 7. Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Norway 8. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon, Norway 9. Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn, Thailand 10. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, Bhutan 11. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, Thailand 12. Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, Thailand

13. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Tupouto’a, Tonga 14. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, Netherlands 15. Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima, Netherlands 16. Princess Ubol Ratana, Thailand 17. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Philippe, Belgium 18. Her Royal Highness Princess Mathilde, Belgium 19. His Royal Highness Prince Andrew The Duke of York, United Kingdom 20. Her Royal Highness Princess Srirasmi, Thailand 21. Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, Thailand 22. Khun Sirikitiya Jensen, Thailand

Royal Speech by

His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Brunei Darussalam on Occasion of the Royal Banquet given by Their Majesties the King and Queen of Thailand in Honour of Foreign Monarchs and Royalties Bangkok, 13 June 2006

“Your Majesty, Queen Sirikit, Most Distinguished Fellow Guests, Your Majesty, We have the honour and great pleasure to join Your Majesties today for two reasons.

Firstly we are here, like the people everywhere in this proud and ancient Kingdom, to offer a very simple personal message to Your Majesty and your beloved Queen Sirikit.

We offer our warmest congratulations and our heartfelt best wishes to you both and to the people of Thailand. We do this with deepest of respect.

This occasion, however, demands much more than our simple goodwill no matter how warmly and sincerely it is expressed.

So, there is another equally important reason for our presence in your beautiful country. If there is a single word to express it. Your Majesty, I believe it would be the word, “honour”.

We are here, Your Majesty, to honour you and your people and to honour your life as their leader, their inspiration and their revered Head of State.

Your Majesty’s reign is one of the longest in history.

That, however, is a matter for academic record and we are not here to celebrate mere records.

We are here to honour the substance of that reign.

We are here to express our profound esteem for the personal qualities with which Your Majesty has so enriched it.

Its sixty years are not just sixty years in the history of Thailand. They are, in so many ways, the history of our times, the good and the bad, the joyous and the sad, the exciting and the desperate.

These times have brought the most rapid and far-reaching changes ever seen in Man’s history. They have challenged every aspect of our existence, above all as sovereign

nation. They have presented moments when great decisions and judgement have been called for.

To these moments, Your Majesty has brought the dignity, wisdom, courage that we all seek to offer those we are called upon to lead.

You have never sought to distance yourself from the lives of your people. You have never asked them to be follows or mere subjects. You have shared their joys, fears and disappointments.

You have made them deeply proud of their heritage and their identity. You have made your people feel that the Kingdom of Thailand is indeed their own Kingdom. Above all, I feel, you have given them confidence.

Much of this comes from Your Majesty’s own personal achievements. These have rightly been a source of great inspiration to your people whether academic, artistic, and scientific, or in the most human of terms the simple example of a good and loving father.

All these achievements have now been recognized by the international community. And we offer you our warmest congratulations on the Lifetime Achievement Award that has been conferred by the United Nations.

Your Majesty, In recognizing all these accomplishments some accounts of your reign have accorded you the title “The Great”. We can all understand why.

But, for us who have come to honour you here, a simpler title expresses our feelings. It is a dear and very special title.

You are our friend and our most respected colleague.

You inspire us all and we, Your Majesty’s peers and admirers, honour you most deeply for this.

We wish Your Majesties and the people of the Kingdom of Thailand many more years of great happiness and prosperity.

Thank you.

”

The UNDP Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award

A special UNDP Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding commitment during their lifetime to furthering the understanding and progress of human development in a national, regional or global context. This is the first time such a Lifetime Achievement Award has been awarded, and awarded to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Development King UN Presented an Award

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan presented the United Nations Development Programme Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej on 26 May 2006 at Piamsuk Villa, Klai Kangvon Palace, Hua Hin District, Prachuap Khirikhan Province on the occasion of the Sixtieth Anniversary of His Majesty’s Accession to the Throne.

Citation Statement The Presentation of the Human Development Award to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand By the UN Secretary-General 26 May 2006

The United Nations is honoured to present to Your Majesty the United Nations Development Programme First Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award. We do this on the auspicious occasion of the Sixtieth Anniversary of Your Majesty’s Accession to the Throne.

Your Majesty has made an extraordinary contribution to human development. As the world’s “Development King”, Your Majesty has reached out to the poorest and the most vulnerable people of Thailand, regardless of their status, ethnicity or religion, listened to their problems, and empowered them to take their lives in their own hands.

Your Majesty’s countless rural development projects have been at the forefront of innovation and benefited millions of people across Thailand. They have promoted small-scale agriculture, appropriate farming technologies, sustainable use of water resources, conservation, and flood and drought mitigation.

As a visionary thinker, Your Majesty has played an invaluable role in shaping the global development dialogue. Your Majesty’s “Sufficiency Economy” philosophy emphasizing balance, moderation, rational, moral and resilience to external shocks, is of great relevance worldwide during these times of rapid globalization. It reinforces the United Nation’s efforts to promote a people-centred and sustainable path of development.

With this Award, we hope to further promote the invaluable experiences and lessons learnt from Your Majesty’s development endeavours, and help draw attention to Your Majesty’s visionary thinking beyond the borders of the Kingdom of Thailand. At this opportunity, it is our greatest honour and privilege to present to Your Majesty this Lifetime Human Development Award.

Contents His Majesty’s Initiatives and Speeches on Natural Resources Conservation ....................................................................................

His Majesty’s Activities on Natural Resources Conservation ...............................................................................

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His Majesty’s Honours and Recognition .......................... 573 From Our Hearts The Celebrations on the Occasion of the Sixtieth Anniversary of His Majesty’s Accession to the Throne ................................................................

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His Majesty’s Activities on Natural Resources Conservation

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Mae Hong Son: 27 Years of His Majesty’s Royal Initiative on Integrated Natural Resource Management

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Compiled by

Colonel Panuwatr Nakwong

D emonstrating His genuine concern over the

well-being of people throughout the country, particularly those living in very rough and remote areas, His Majesty travels each year to these places staying temporarily at royal palaces in different regions. During these visits, His Majesty seeks first hand information from the people and local officials. He observes and surveys geographical conditions to form a basis for His recommendations to improve Royal-initiated Projects in different areas and ensure that they are effective.

During the period 1950-1962, His Majesty took the initiative to introduce activities in medical science for the benefit of the people and to develop their standard of living. At that time, there was insignificant progress in medical science and public health administration. His Majesty’s primary concern was to provide immediate relief to the people’s misery. In 1951 His Majesty encouraged the Department of Fisheries to raise Java Tilapia from Penang, which were presented to Him by specialists from the Food and Agriculture Organization, in a pond at Amphornsathan Palace. In 1953 His Majesty provided Tilapia fingerlings to district and sub-district heads around the country to further distribute the fish to local communities for them to raise and breed in their own villages and thus have their own source of protein. In 1952 His Majesty donated bulldozers to the Border Patrol Police at Naresuan Camp to

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pave the entrance to Huai Mongkol Village, Hin Lek Fai Sub-district in Hua Hin District, Prachuap Khirikhan Province.

This made it more convenient for villagers to bring their produce to markets outside their communities.

The Royal-initiated Projects are projects that His Majesty plans, develops and recommends to the government and responsible agencies in specific areas for them to jointly carry out based on His ideas. His Majesty works closely with government agencies, represented by civil servants, members of the police and army, and local residents in each royal project site. Nowadays, apart from Mae Hong Son Province, royal projects are found in all regions of Thailand. The projects come in different forms and fall under diversified development purposes depending on problems found in each area. Hence, the royal projects require both short- and long-term implementation. Some are technical in nature and are aimed at studying, experimenting or researching. Each project has its own clear-cut objectives and time scale for implementation.

Prior to each royal visit, His Majesty always studies information from available documents and maps in order to gain a comprehensive insight into current conditions in particular areas.

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To gather data at specific sites, His Majesty, upon arrival, reviews His data collection, making sure that His facts are up-to-date. For instance, His Majesty asks the local people about their occupations and their respective villages’ terrain, geography, and weather conditions. He explores the areas concerned to have a first hand view of sites for potential development.

His Majesty asks the local authorities for further information.

Once His Majesty has obtained complete data drawn from His first hand viewing of specific sites, He discusses with all concerned local officials regarding the suitability and feasibility of specific projects, an assessment of the benefits of the project and its worthiness, as well as its positive and negative effects over the short- and long-terms. His Majesty then comes up with a project idea for concerned authorities to consider, taking into account relevant details and procedures regarding its consequent implementation.

According to a Royal statement issued by His Majesty, His initiatives only constitute a recommendation. The Government, when informed about them, should take these into consideration for further scrutiny, using scientific and technical assessment methods. When an initiative is considered

possible, worthwhile and deserving of an investment, the Government can then take further action. If the initiative is considered unsuitable, it can be withdrawn.

In Mae Hong Son royal projects originating from the benevolent concern of His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen cover the period 1979 to 2002. These can be chronologically grouped under three periods as follows:

Phase 1: 1979-1982 The first four years marked the beginning of project implementation. His Majesty recommended the establishment of a development center in various areas. Because of Mae Hong Son’s mountainous terrain, transportation was difficult, raising the need for development centers to be dispersed widely.

Concerned agencies worked together in each center, with duties to experiment, research, and conduct agricultural demonstrations concerning raising livestock and plant cultivation, taking into account local conditions for the utmost benefit of residents in target villages.

Phase 2: 1983-1987 During this phase His Majesty urged officials working in all centers to actively promote results obtained from experiments carried out at the centers, extending these to residents in target villages. His Majesty renamed the development centers as Service and Development Centers and encouraged the structure of project officers to be reformed to better meet the mandate of each center.

Phase 3: 1988-2002 During this period, the centers’ work results were promoted in target villages that were under the responsibility of specific centers in different areas in Mae Hong Son. His Majesty delivered a royal address on the improvement, modification, and expansion of development projects at grass roots level. The highlights can be chronologically summed up as follows: In 1991 His Majesty recommended the construction of a dam along the right bank of Pai River to pump water

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up to many reservoirs on high ground, in order to meet the demands of Royal-Initiated Development Projects as well as for the purpose of generating increased moisture for the forests.

In addition, His Majesty requested the Royal Irrigation Department to conduct a survey for the construction of more reservoirs on available land so as to provide villagers with water for agriculture and domestic consumption all year round.

This also improved national security as the local people were motivated to live close together and not to deforest. Meanwhile government officials were able to control them and to have them finally settle down.

In connection with the Royal Forest Department, His Majesty originated ďœ?forest villages’ in deteriorated forest areas, avoiding any negative effects on the local people and entrusting the Department to promote occupational development and encourage the people to live in harmony with the forests.

His Majesty urged the Department of Fisheries to carry out a feasibility study to promote fish farming among villagers as a source of food and livelihood, as well as to grow the Blyths mountain frog (the so-called Kiat Laew), which is endemic to Mae Hong Son.

In connection with the Department of Livestock Development, His Majesty encouraged the Department to provide cattle, swine and chicken to the villagers. In the meantime, the Royal Irrigation Department was requested to supply water during the dry season in order to maintain sufficient amounts of grass as staple livestock feed.

His Majesty requested the Department of Agriculture Extension to improve the on-going development and propagation of cut flower rose species by promoting their cultivation in low temperatures and with sufficient moisture.

His Majesty led the Department of Agriculture to promote the results of peach cultivation, resulting in bigger and more abundant fruits. His Majesty also recommended that annual plants should be grown between ridges of fruit trees in order to maximize land use as well as to successfully create lush forests.

In connection with the 21st Royal Infantry Department, His Majesty ordered the armed forces located in various centers in Mae Hong Son to keep an eye on minorities moving in and out of the Thai-Myanmar border and to question them about their places of origin and length of their journeys,

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referring to a map so as to determine exactly where they are from and the reason for their travel. This sort of information is useful intelligence for national security strategies.

In this connection, Her Majesty issued a Royal recommendation on the foundation of the Promotion of Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques (SUPPORT) Fund and various SUPPORT groups, donating 50,000 Baht in support of the Fund. The royal recommendation also encouraged concerned agencies to champion and promote the cultivation of rattan, which is rare and costly, to supply SUPPORT member groups in different villages. Bamboo was also promoted for wider cultivation to help retain ground moisture. Her Majesty urged the establishment of rice banks in various villages.

In 1992 His Majesty requested the Royal Irrigation Department to build dams at Huai Pa and Ban Huai Pa Kong to supply water to the 1,500 rai construction site for the Huai Na Krajong reservoir which will support farmlands at Ban Huai Due, to expedite the erection of a weir on Pai River (based on an earlier royal recommendation), and to revive the cultivation of Vetiver grass some three months before the rainy season, ensuring that the plant will be strong and tolerant of heavy seasonal rain. His Majesty also assigned the Department

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of Agriculture to modify a system of farmlands in the Royal Service and Development Center at Pangtong Highland so as to prevent blocked water in cultivating plots that causes acidic soil.

Her Majesty made a royal recommendation to promote reforestation along entrances to villages, to cultivate and propagate the rough-lipped Dendrobium in the Pangtong Center, and to propagate cut roses and expand their market in other provinces. Her Majesty also encouraged loom weaving and promoted the establishment of more SUPPORT member groups.

In 1994 Her Majesty asked the Royal Forest Department to search for the best rattan to grow and to encourage villagers to plant it for extra income. Her Majesty also urged the Department of Fisheries to protect and breed the Blyths mountain frog to give villagers an alternative source of income.

Following Her Majesty’s recommendation, the Department of Agriculture experimented in planting roses that grow well in nature and encouraged villagers to grow them for additional income and to extract floral scents. Her Majesty also recommended the promotion of eco-tourism in villages, including establishing more weaving groups, raising more sheep and improving the weaving of sheep fur based on standard quality.

In 1995 Her Majesty recommended to officials from the Department of Agriculture the extraction of fragrance from a variety of flowers apart from roses. These included the rough-lipped Dendrobium Gerbera. Her Majesty also requested all concerned authorities to help conserve forests and to carry out further reforestation.

Her Majesty requested specialists from the Department of Livestock Development to research and improve on small animals, requesting them to select sheep breeds that are suited to conditions in local areas and to mate these with originally imported breeds. As the imported sheep stock at that time had long been brought into the country, many were raised as a result of close breeding, making them inferior and their fur of less quantity and poor quality.

Her Majesty asked the Royal Irrigation Department to construct the Mae Pang Dam at Huai Kee Ma and Huai Pa Saeng and to check dams at ramifying watercourses of Huai Mae Pang, as well as to plant Vetiver grass on project land.

The plants were blanketed to protect them from damage due to water and erosion.

In 1996 there were no specific royal recommendations, instead there were follow-ups on how Their Majesties advice had been observed.

In 1997 His Majesty emphasized that development should be gradual and economical based on the potential development of each area. Development activities that are expanded steadily become sustainable.

His Majesty recommended the construction and maintenance of a palace to be used during His visits to the people and the maintenance of lodges for officers. He said that a budget to support maintenance should be considered and this should be compared with the cost of new construction.

His Majesty also recommended designs for the palaces,

suggesting the use of iron because it is less expensive compared with the cost of wood.

The successful rehabilitation of wet forests and public parks in Mae Hong Son should be continuously shared with the villagers as well as the beneficial cultivation of Vetiver grass to protect land surface and prevent its erosion.

In 1998 His Majesty spoke about the overall development picture, citing the army’s major role and support in all aspects of development in rugged and remote areas that had suffered from communist terrorists. Such work needed continuity throughout the border areas, from top to bottom.

Therefore there was a need to identify a responsible party who understood and could coordinate and collaborate well with other agencies and the local people. For this reason, the First Army was assigned to implement the project at Mae Hong Son in addition to other areas. The First Army was asked to help out and was assigned to define policies, enabling all to join and support the work at hand because continuity was necessary, as mentioned earlier.

Her Majesty, in a remark made on 4 February 1998 to Lieutenant General Nipont Parunnitya, the First Army Area Commander, and Colonel Panuwatr Nakwong, Commanding Officer of the Second Infantry Battalion in the the 21st Royal Infantry Department, stated that soldiers must love the people and work mainly for the masses. Her Majesty also called on everyone to understand that the goal to protect national sovereignty was for the benefit of the masses. Her Majesty emphasized that in Mae Hong Son SUPPORT groups had branched out to 55 clusters. She added that the groups’ work was vital for the masses and should be pursued for their benefit.

The armed forces were sent to villages under the Royalinitiated Development Projects in Mae Hong Son to survey the

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villagers’ occupations, including handicraft making, weaving, crafting, molding and welding. The goal was to promote these and to identify trainers for villagers in other groups at SUPPORT Center in Mae Hong Son. The Department of Fisheries was assigned to breed frogs and fish and to release these in natural water sources for the benefit of the people in general. The Royal Forest Department was mandated to propagate the rough-lipped Dendrobium, to be given to the villagers for them to grow in the forests. Their sale was prohibited.

In 1999 Her Majesty issued a royal praise for the Commanding Officer of the 21st Royal Infantry Department, conveying Her satisfaction with the progress of the Royal Development Project initiated by Their Majesties and commended all working committees within the projects in Mae Hong Son, essentially the First Army Area, the Third Army Area and the 21st Royal Infantry Department. Her Majesty’s additional observations can be summarized as follows: The weaving of sheep fur should be improved and sword making in the villages should be preserved. Her Majesty ordered the army to transmit the results of the projects to villages along the Thai-Myanmar border, in accordance with the ongoing training of the civilian force by the 21st Royal Infantry Department, and to collect additional data from the local people in order to address their needs. The growing of mulberry for nurturing silkworms should be further promoted.

In 2000 Her Majesty revealed Her deep concern over the global environment, warning that in the future the world would encounter more challenging environmental threats, including starvation as a result of the world’s soaring population.

Since Mae Hong Son is rich in natural resources, such as wood, wildlife, and, quite importantly, year-round availability of water, Her Majesty recommended that agricultural activities in Mae Hong Son should be diversified and should be in harmony

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with its geographical features, particularly its lush forests. The management of land in Mae Hong Son should be optimal. For example, the demonstration site at Pangtong Center should be arranged as a food bank providing a variety of plants and animals. Her Majesty then recommended growing many plants and raising many animals in the area, emphasizing important details as follows: • Pai Hok or D. hamiltonii Nees bamboo is highly useful.

Its shoot is edible. It grows fast and can be put to good use quickly. The breeding of animals, such as the Blyth mountain frog and different species of wild fowls, and their consequent release into nature should be promoted. These animals can survive in bamboo forests and can be eaten.

• Fish culture in the highlands, including a common carp known as Pla Nai, should be promoted and given top priority.

• Animal farming on high ground, particularly small-size poultry, should be carried out.

• Indigenous fruit trees or edible wild plants, such as wild mango, wild jackfruit, Thai copper pod tree and other plants that are durable and easy to grow should be planted and propagated.

In 2001 Her Majesty conveyed Her satisfaction with the work of a community food bank at Ban Na Pa Paek. Based on information from UN publications, Her Majesty warned of imminent food shortage if the world’s environmental condition is not improved and the world’s population growth rate is not reduced in the next 10 years. Hence, every country should join hands to create new food sources in order to prevent global conflicts concerning food supply. Inspired to take action, Her Majesty initiated the pioneering community food bank project. Water is by far the most important component in the successful management of the bank. The richness of water

sources can only be ensured if there are abundant forests to hold water. This demonstrates the need to protect our forests so that they can maintain their capacity to conserve water.

Her Majesty’s aim is to reforest to the maximum extent possible, including plants that provide food for both human and animal consumption. Among these are various species of bamboo, Manila cherry, Java plum and Banyan tree. These fruitbearing trees can retain water underground for long periods and can provide food for many kinds of wild animals. Her Majesty was delighted to see the model farmer’s house that was made of bamboo. Bamboo grows fast and is of enormous use, including the production of handicrafts of the SUPPORT Centers.

Her Majesty was pleased with the work of the Department of Fisheries regarding the conservation and breeding of aquatic animals in large numbers. Expressing interest in culturing the sand Gody, Her Majesty was informed by the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Fisheries that this fish is popularly cultured in the Central Region and can be

exported in small amounts to Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore.

Her Majesty urged the Department of Fisheries, Royal Irrigation Department and Royal Forest Department to collaborate in breeding and raising the Blyth mountain frog and returning the cultured stock to the forest where it can reproduce better under favorable natural conditions, including the availability of flowing water.

Her Majesty requested the Community Food Bank Project to share its successful work with other village communities, encouraging at the same time the implementation of forest conservation. Her Majesty also urged the Ban Na Pa Paek Project to demonstrate its successful results in some 2,000 rai of agricultural land.

General Nipont Parunnitya, Director of the Royal Development Projects, informed Her Majesty of problems concerning marketing. Her Majesty assigned the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce and the Director-General of the Department of Internal Trade to solve these problems.

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In 2002 Her Majesty issued royal recommendations as follows: 1) Natural Resources 1.1 Forests The government sector should grow more forests, halt encroachment into forest areas, reforest land used by farmers for rotating agriculture by growing edible forests (mixed with perennial plants) in the surroundings of villages and perennial forests in forest areas, retain land moisture and prevent landslides in devastated areas by adopting terrace planting and growing Vetiver grass on slopes.

1.2 Wildlife animals that are tolerant of highlands and cool climate should be procured, bred and returned to the forests.

1.3 Aquatic animals that are tolerant of the high ground and cold weather should be obtained and released into natural bodies of water, where they can multiply and be harvested to serve as good sources of protein. This will help to solve the problem of food scarcity during drought seasons when natural water sources dry up and fish harvests are small. Measures for storing water during the dry season should be considered. Fish conservation during the dry season and release during the rainy season should be considered to help ensure food sufficiency.

2) Supplementary Occupations Extra work as sources of additional incomes should be promoted among villagers.

3) SUPPORT Products from the SUPPORT Centers should be improved in terms of quality and patterns, while

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the unique skill of village artisans should be preserved. Product design should be adjusted to meet market demands in order to increase product sales and earn additional incomes for villagers. The work of SUPPORT Centers and their relevant divisions should be clearly implemented.

4) Fight against Drugs All government agencies together with the civic sector should be mobilized to eradicate drug problems, including drug abuse and drug supply.

5) Indoctrination Concerning Nationalism Thai hilltribe communities should be assimilated so they will learn to cherish the country, understand the values of domicile and appreciate their Thai-ness unquestioningly.

6) Security Villagers should be trained in self-protection and in supporting military operations in wartime.

7) Forest Fire Villagers should be trained in fire fighting, establishing fire buffer zones, and extinguishing fires.

The knowledge gained should be applied in community areas and in forests adjacent to villages in order to help responsible agencies.

8) Passion of Unity All concerned government bodies, including the army, police, and other official agencies are committed to carry out their various activities most effectively and harmoniously for the benefit of the country.

9) Rice Bank and Community Food Bank The banks should branch out in other areas while making Mae Hong Son a food bonanza.

10) Training for Thai Hilltribes Training should be conducted with no interruption and evaluated by means of group work to determine if what has been learned is truly useful.

The foregoing refers to the origin of the Royal-initiated Development Projects in Mae Hong Son, based on Their Majesties’ initiative. Her Majesty expressed confidence that concerned government agencies will incorporate Their Majesties’ views in their core mission.

Once the projects have been commented upon by Their Majesties, agencies concerned with the mission will implement the projects, in accordance with Their Majesties’ initiatives, under the coordination and supervision of the Army Unit, the 21st Royal Infantry Department. Various agencies which take part in carrying out royal projects include the Royal Irrigation Department, Royal Forest Department, Land Development Department, Department of Livestock Development, Cooperative Promotion Department, Department of Agriculture Extension, Department of Fisheries, Department of Agriculture, Department of Industrial Works, Department of Local Administration,

Department of Health, Office of Accelerated Rural Development, Department of Highways, Armed Forces Development Command, Office of Agricultural Economics, Chiang Mai University, Public Works Department, Community Development Department, Department of Vocational Education, Non-formal Education Department, Department of Public Welfare and Ministry of Commerce.

Each body will work in accordance with the main mandate, the scope of which is as follows: 1) Civil Organs are in charge of developing water resources and irrigation systems, nourishing and conserving animal species and forestry resources, enriching and protecting the soil and promoting animal breeding, fisheries, agriculture, occupations, cooperative systems in villages, basic infrastructure and educational system.

2) Military Organs are responsible for the defense and security of all citizens and civilian bodies. They are also responsible for intelligence, construction of border villages and their maintenance, training civilian forces as military reserve, and coordination with all concerned agencies.

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Liaison officers from the 21st Royal Infantry Department will contact each agency to convey Their Majesties’ recommendations for specialized organs to carry out in order to reach specified goals. On the matter of procedures, manpower, budget and materials for each project, individual agencies are required to seek support from the Ministry that has jurisdiction over them. The liaison officers will follow-up the progress of project implementation and record the outcomes, problems and obstacles found in project execution. This is done annually and a report is prepared for Their Majesties to consider and decide on the best means to improve the project or to extend it the following year.

To execute the Royal-initiated Development Projects in Mae Hong Son, each agency normally works on site to execute the project as planned. As for fieldwork, local labor is mostly recruited on the basis of temporary employment.

Therefore, once the projects have accomplished their goals and are completed, they will not unjustly affect the contracted workers.

Royal-initiated Development Projects during the period 1989-1993 included the founding of four development centers, as follows: 1) Royal-initiated Development Center at Pai River 2) Royal-initiated Development Center at Pangtong Highland 3) Royal-initiated Development Center at Nai Soi 4) Royal-initiated Development Center at Huai Makue Som

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The mission of these development centers is to experiment, research and demonstrate agricultural work, including plant cultivation and animal breeding, taking into account local conditions. The results are shared with the villagers for them to apply and practice.

In the subsequent period from 1983 to 1987, Their Majesties’ recommendations urged the working committees of the Development Centers to transfer the results of experimental activities to villagers in target villages. His Majesty decided to rename the “Development Center” as “Service and Development Center”. Working committees were set up according to the mission of specific centers. During this period, development centers were classified into three types and their scope and responsibility were revised as follows: Part 1: Royal-initiated Service and Development Center at Pai River, in charge of target villages in the plains Part 2: Royal-initiated Service and Development Center at Pangtong, in charge of target villages in the highlands Part 3: SUPPORT Centers at Mae Hong Son under the Royal patronage of Her Majesty the Queen, in charge of work carried out in the Centers as well as the work of their member groups in Mae Hong Son Province.

Nowadays Service and Development Centers are extending the implementation of their successful work to target villages in the plains and highlands. Working committees have been set up at every district to select target villages and to work on knowledge transfer.

Achievements of Royal-initiated Development Projects at Mae Hong Son In collaboration with a number of agencies carrying out royal recommendations since the projects’ start in 1979 up to the present, concrete achievements have been accomplished. These can be summarized as follows:

1.

Work Achievements of Civil Agencies

1.1 Development of water resources: The Royal Irrigation Department has built water sources, such as dams, weirs and water supply systems for villagers under the projects, enabling efficient use of water.

1.2 Forestry development: The Royal Forest Department has continuously reforested and protected the forests.

Quite importantly, the Department carried out an experiment on the pioneering wet forest project, based on a recommendation of His Majesty regarding measures to retain water or weirs to control moisture in natural materials. Forests grow better when the level of moisture retained is higher. The experiment turned out excellent results. The area covered by the wet forest project has been extended up to 5,000 rai, to reach other districts and to protect the forests from fire. A buffer zone was also enhanced. The villagers campaigned to participate in forestry conservation by founding a volunteer group to protect

the forests. As for wildlife conservation and breeding, the Department erected a Pangtong Wildlife Culture and Breeding Center which has cultured a variety of animal species, including fowls, such as peacocks, pheasants and red jungle fowls, birds and ungulates, namely barking deer, stag, and Brow-antlered deer.

1.3 Occupational promotion: Many agencies have worked towards promoting occupations for villagers. The Department of Agriculture Extension promotes planting of farm produce, temperate-zone fruit trees, and herbs, as well as hosts training for farmers in target villages. The Land Development Department demonstrates and facilitates soil and water conservation, as well as soil nourishment using compost and natural fertilizer. Significantly, the cultivation of Vetiver grass based on His Majesty’s idea is practiced as a preventive against landslides. The Department of Livestock Development has bred many animals for villagers to grow as food, including Muscovy duck, chickens and pigs. It is also engaged in sheep farming, with sheep fur used in weaving activities at the SUPPORT Centers. The Department of Fisheries has constructed a freshwater fishery station, aimed at researching the breeding of various types of freshwater fish, such as Nile tilapia, common

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carp, Soro Brook Carp and Blyth mountain frog. At present, the station produces prototype species and releases fish species into natural water sources. Villagers are encouraged to grow fish for their own consumption.

1.4 Rice bank establishment: The establishment of rice banks in pursuance of a royal recommendation has been actively carried out in villages. At present, there are 54 rice banks in total.

1.5 Products from the SUPPORT Centers: To conserve the traditional art and culture of Mae Hong Son, the SUPPORT Center at Mae Hong Son, under the Royal patronage of Her Majesty the Queen, were constructed for the purpose of providing training in various skills. At present, member groups have branched out in Mae Hong Son, totaling some 79 groups.

1.6 Education: Child development centers and schools have been built in villages along border areas to teach Thai language and Thai traditions to hilltribes.

1.7 Cooperative system: The Cooperative Promotion Department has advocated the setting up of cooperative systems

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in target villages in order to instill knowledge of the proper management of cooperatives. The Department also has a training course where students can learn relevant principles and experience work procedures under the cooperative system.

1.8 Other work: Apart from the above-mentioned activities, work is going on in other sectors, based on royal advice and recommendations.

• Farming and breeding horse and mule for use in rugged and remote areas and to set an example for villagers in target villages. So far 32 horses and 10 mules have been raised at the Royal-initiated Service and Development Center at Pangtong Highland.

• Rose farming based on Her Majesty’s recommendation that roses be propagated and planted for sale within a six-rai area.

• Food Bank Project aimed at promoting among local villagers access to rich food sources from nature and from uncontaminated organic food sources so that human beings and the forests can co-exist in harmony.

2.

Work Achievements of Military Agencies

2.1 Security strategy Not only does the Army upgrade the villagers’ way of life but it also works towards the development of internal security, in accordance with Their Majesties’ recommendation, by setting up villages along border areas in order to attract villagers to stay together instead of living around forest areas and encroaching into forests. In addition to border villages, development has been extended to settlements in target villages that have been identified by a Royal command, including Ban Doi Saeng, Ban Huai Pueng, Ban Ruam Thai, Ban Pangtong and Ban Na Pa Paek. These villages are strategically located as they serve as an entrance-exit corridor along the Thai-Myanmar border. As for the training of civilian forces, Their Majesties’ guideline promotes the continuing training of civilians residing in target villages so that they would know how to protect themselves while also serving as good sources of intelligence for the government. Some 3,000 civilians have been trained

to-date. Check dams have been built along the border to make the forests moist and to protect head watershed areas and natural resources and make them fertile. As a result, villagers can use water without harming the trees. The army together with the Royal Irrigation Department has already built three check dams at Ban Doi Saeng and Ban Na Pa Paek, and has drafted a work plan to construct more such dams in adjoining areas.

2.2 Work achievements of the 21st Royal Infantry Department The 21st Royal Infantry Department under the First Army has implemented Royal project in Mae Hong Son since the inauguration of the project in 1979. Its authority and mission can be summarized as follows: • Areas under its responsibility The areas include Royal-initiated Service and Development Centers at Pai River and Pangtong, a project coordination center at Ban Huai Poo Ling, Mueng District, a development coordination center at Huai Makeu Som Highland, a development coordination center at Ban Ruam Thai, a silkworm coordination center at Ban Huai

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Due, SUPPORT Center in Mae Hong Son under the Royal patronage of Her Majesty the Queen, (San Pa Tong) central coordination center for Royal-initiated Development Projects in Chiang Mai. • Assigned mission The Army is designated to coordinate with agencies in Mae Hong Son to extend development activities to target villages as well as to protect the Pong Daeng Royal Mansion in the Service and Development Center at Pai River, as well as the Pangtong Royal Palace.

Moreover, the Army is responsible for promoting arts and crafts at the SUPPORT Center in Mae Hong Son under the Royal patronage of Her Majesty the Queen, conserving the work of artisans and local culture, implementing relevant activities in

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the Royal-initiated Community Food Bank Project, directing the Rice Bank Project as well as occupational groups in target villages, and running a cut-flower rose project, in accordance with a royal recommendation. • The Army is in charge of supporting residents in border villages by training civilian forces to protect themselves, setting up intelligence units to report on local movements, and teaching patriotism among the villagers so that they and the future generations will be loyal to the country and will have a sense of ownership of the country.

Summary 1.

Success of Royal-initiated Development Projects in National Security While the concerned areas have been free from the presence of foreign troops for a long time, the Royal-initiated Development Projects have nevertheless been a vital factor in planning military strategy. Based on their location and general geography, concerned areas and villages can be developed to enhance military strength in various ways, including the provision of logistical support, community food banks and water resources which are made available to military troops for at least six months. With regards transportation and basic infrastructure, roads have been paved, while electricity, water and telephone lines have been adequately provided. Health centers have also been established. As members of the military reserve, local villagers have been trained to support the troops when necessary. The villagers are also drilled to seek information beneficial to the formulation of security strategy. Currently there is only a rifle squad stationed in project areas outside the villages, patrolling the border areas and villages under the projects and maintaining both internal and external security.

Each Royal Service and Development Center has target villages, water resources and abundant food sources that are enough to feed the troops for at least six months. Public utility and public support have been made available. In the meantime, villagers in target villages are well prepared to serve in the military reserve in the event of war since they are continuously trained. In times of peace, the villagers will live normally but they will nevertheless have the skill to seek intelligence and observe the movement of strangers present in their localities.

They will duly inform officials in Service and Development Centers or military and government bodies about the presence of such strangers.

2.

Success of the Royal-initiated Development Projects in Improving the Quality of Life To raise the quality of life of villagers in project areas, specifically target villages, soldiers work closely with concerned agencies to facilitate their regular work and additional duties and responsibilities, upgrade basic infrastructure, develop education, and promote the conservation of natural resources and the environment as well as local culture and traditions.

An opinion survey among residents in target villages reported that villagers living in project areas are employed and have assured incomes. Living conditions in the villages are much better than before the project commenced. The overall picture discloses a higher quality of life.

Hence, the Royal-initiated Development Projects from the past up to the present have not only improved the quality of life of villagers, in addition deforestation has declined and nature has been rehabilitated and conserved, national security has been promoted, and external threats have been addressed.

This is considered as one of the most effective administrative strategies of Thailand.

In brief, development activities implemented along the border in Mae Hong Son, based on Their Majesties’ recommendation, has improved the quality of life of villagers and contributed to internal stability, which is favorable to sustainable external security.

The Royal-initiated Development Projects, based on the initiative of Their Majesties, are aimed at two key purposes.

The first is to improve the quality of life of villagers in the highlands of Mae Hong Son, and to rehabilitate and conserve the forests and to ensure that nature will remain lush. Secondly, the projects are intended to strengthen national security, essentially against threats from foreign military troops. Of the projects that have been implemented since 1979, many have been successfully completed. At present these projects are being reviewed and improved, with the project results transferred to other areas in Mae Hong Son. Further to national security and stability, integrated development resulting from the Royal-initiated Development Projects is evident in such matters as the improved quality of life, rehabilitation and conservation of forests and natural resources, training in military affairs and intelligence for villagers and decisions concerning military defense strategy that have given the project areas high security. In addition, the integrated development approach has transformed residential areas into ideal military sites that are not dependent for external support.

The consequent effects of development are everlasting and some of these are being reviewed in order to ensure absolute success and improve the well-being of the people.

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Because the success of development mandates is dependent on many factors, implementation of the Royal-initiated Development Projects in Mae Hong Son, through the initiative of His Majesty, is based on integrated collaboration among concerned agencies. Designing work plans of projects, for instance, needs to take into account the villagers’ basic needs and ambitions. Work plans should be self-reliant at first and are improved gradually. Related agencies are required to conduct joint meetings regularly. In the early years, four Royal Development Centers were set up. These are in Pai River, Pangtong Highland, Nai Soi and Huai Makue Som. These centers were established principally with a mandate to experiment, research, and carry out demonstration activities in agriculture and livestock in response to local conditions. When the goals have been reached, the projects are reviewed for future improvement and their successful results are shared with residents in target villages.

Therefore, the four Royal Development Centers were grouped into two new Service and Development Centers, one at Pai River, in charge of target villages in the plains and another in Pangtong Highland, in charge of target villages in the

highlands. Furthermore, SUPPORT Center in Mae Hong Son was set up under the Royal patronage of Her Majesty the Queen to look after activities within the center and member groups in Mae Hong Son. At present Service and Development Centers are extending their successful results with residents in target villages in the plains and highlands where district-level working groups have been formed to select target villages and to disseminate project outcomes in the villages at the same time. Implementation of the Royal Development Projects has also helped to strengthen national security without any additional budget and personnel. It can be said that sustainable development needs time to educate villagers gradually by using procedures that can be adjusted to suit local circumstances and knowledge. Stakeholders have a chance to take part in drawing up and running the projects. This is one of the practical measures in inspiring self-reliance among villages. Furthermore, patriotism is instilled gradually so that the idea of joining the military reserve is welcome. This development success should be a model to be duplicated in other parts of the country.

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“T o initiate is a comment to do, not a command.

It is an opinion. I must tell what theory exists. If you can listen, it is alright.

If you like it, then take it. Who will dislike it doesn’t matter.

”

Royal-initiated Projects

A n original Royal-Initiated project commenced in

1951 when His Majesty kindly allowed the Department of Fisheries to raise Java tilapia in a pond in the Amphornsathan Palace. The tilapia species were from Penang and were presented by fishery specialists from the Food and Agriculture Organization on 7 November 1953. His Majesty generously gave the Java tilapia to district and sub-district heads throughout the country to culture and breed in their villages in order to have another source of protein.

The Royal-initiated projects regarded as the first rural development project started in 1952 when His Majesty presented bulldozers to a Border Patrol Police at Naresuan Camp to use in paving roads into Huai Mongkol Village, Hin Lek Fai Sub-district, Hua Hin District, Prachuap Khirikhan Province.

The roads facilitated the villagers’ travel to bring their produce to markets outside their villages.

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Projects under the Royal Initiative of His Majesty the King Through the Royal-Initiated Development Projects, His Majesty the King initiates and encourages collaborations with the government in support of His Majesty’s goals and plans.

His Majesty travels throughout the country, working with government bodies, the civil society, police, army and the nation as a whole. The Royal-initiated projects under the responsibility of the Office of the Royal Development Projects Board, totaling 3,799 projects from the 1982 fiscal year to the 2005 fiscal year, fall under eight categories, as follows: agriculture, environment, public health, occupational promotion, water resources development, transportation/communications, social welfare, and other important sectors.

Some outstanding Royal-initiated Projects include Royal Development Study Centers in Khao Hin Sorn in Chachoengsao Province, Huai Sai in Phetchaburi Province, Kung Krabaen Bay in Chanthaburi Province, Puparn in Sakhon Nakhon Province, Huai Hong Khrai in Chiang Mai Province, Pikun Thong in Narathiwat Province, Pa Sak River in Lop Buri and Saraburi Provinces, and the Khun Mae Kuang Forest Area Development Project in Chiang Mai Province.

Other examples of Royal-initiated Projects are the following: a project to solve soil salinity in Sakon Nakhon Province, Nam Kam Basin Development Project in Sakon Nakhon and Nakhon Phanom Provinces, Upper Huai Bang Sai River Basin Development Project in Mukda Han Province, Water Resources Provision Project for Self-sufficient Communities at Lam Pao, Kalasin Province, Mae Aow River Development Project in

Lamphun Province, Rama IX Reservoir in Pathum Thani Province and Huai Ongkort in Kanchanaburi Province, Kuiburi Forest Rehabilitation and Conservation Project in Prachuap Khirikhan Province, Kao Cha-ngoom Deteriorated Soil Rehabilitation Project in Ratchaburi Province, Chaipattana and Mae Fa Luang Reforestation Project in Phetchaburi Province, Pranburi Estuary Development Project in Prachuap Khirikhan Province, Lower Northeast SUPPORT Center in Surin Province, Royal Agriculture Study Center in Phu Singh in Si Sa Ket Province, Construction of Agricultural Service Center in Klong Ta Dan Dam in Nakhon Nayok Province, Acid Soil Experiment Project, New Theory Demonstration Project in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Land Development Project at Yankanwararam Temple in Chon Buri Province, Mae Cham River Basin Development Project in Chiang Mai Province, the Royal Statue of Queen Suriyothai in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, Royal Land Development Project for Rainfed Agriculture by Digging Reservoir according to the New Theory in the Northeast Region, Flood Management in Bangkok and Metropolitan Areas Project, Laem Phak Bia Environmental Research and Development Project in Phetchaburi Province, Off-season Rice Field Project on Barren Land at Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy in Nakhon Nayok Province, Improvement of Chulabhorn Wildlife Captive Breeding Center in Si Sa Ket Province, Forest and Wildlife Conservation Project in Five Provinces (in the East), and Pak Phanang River Basin Development Project in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province.

Concept and Theory of the Royal-initiated Development The development concept and theory initiated by His Majesty the King reflect His Majesty’s remarkable talent and wisdom to invent, adapt, improve and analyze so that Royal-initiated Projects can be easily implemented. These projects are uncomplicated and are supportive of livelihoods, overall natural ecology and social conditions of individual communities. Royal-initiated development projects are innumerable and are varied in their nature and goals. Most are aimed at solving problems and developing the well-being of His Majesty’s subjects. The core principle of each project is simplicity, which has always been encouraged and promoted

by His Majesty. Both concept and academic technique should be justified. They are applied promptly to solve problems and to bring about genuine benefits and sustainable development.

To carry out the Royal-initiated projects, procedures should be followed step-by-step. Communities should first be strengthened and then developed in order to become self-reliant.

In the meantime, conservation and development of natural resources and the environment should be promoted among villagers, alongside the dissemination of new knowledge, techniques and technologies. Nevertheless, implementation of the Royal projects should take into account different geographical and sociological factors of individual areas. In line with this, His Majesty has taken the initiative to establish Royal Development Study Centers in all regions throughout the country.

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Royal Chitralada Projects In 1962 His Majesty introduced experimental and

research activities at the Chitralada Royal Palace in the Dusit Grand Palace as His personal projects. These are now known as the Royal Chitralada Personal Projects. Later in 1969 His Majesty announced in a Royal address the foundation of the

Royal Projects as His personal projects, with a view to providing Thai hilltribe communities with permanent sources of livelihood by growing temperate cash crops instead of planting opium.

This would not only raise their standard of living but would also encourage them to promote national security.

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Royal Chitralada Personal Projects His Majesty has tirelessly conducted Royal visits to different parts of the country to learn about the people’s genuine problems. He has always been well-prepared to assist His subjects in the face of their difficulties. His Majesty begins by making assumptions based on His observations, followed by analyzing, brainstorming, studying and carrying out virtual experiments, as in the case of the Royal Chitralada Personal Projects. These projects were introduced by His Majesty in various parts of Thailand that He has visited. These visits have familiarized His Majesty with the problems of hilltribe communities.

He has always been fully cognizant of the hardships among villagers, especially those concerned with agriculture. In response, His Majesty allotted an area at the Chitralada Royal Palace for His personal projects, with special emphasis on agricultural missions.

The premises of Chitralada Royal Palace offer different livelihood models for people from all walks of life. The core objective is to allow His Majesty to experiment and find precise solutions to the people’s problems. Most importantly, His Majesty is given an opportunity to know His subjects as much as possible as has always been His wish.

His Majesty always conveys His ideas to the people in a systematic way. He has drawn up a work plan for the Royal Chitralada Personal Projects, under the following categories: experimental projects, demonstration projects, and non-profit projects. Projects implemented at Chitralada Royal Palace are grouped by His Majesty into two, as follows:

Non-Business Projects Non-business projects are pursued in response to a Royal initiative of His Majesty. They are mostly involved in the development of efficient agricultural production. His Majesty emphasizes the need to raise the living standards of farmers over the long-term. The primary approach is to make farmers self-reliant in agriculture, to provide them with extra income to supplement farm earnings, and to develop and conserve natural resources. Some examples are shown below: • Demonstration forests: This project was introduced in 1960 following His Majesty’s annual summer stay at Klai Kangwon Palace in Prachuap Khirikhan Province. While driving through Ta Yang District in Phetchaburi Province, His Majesty observed the abundance of Yang-Na trees (Dipterocarpus alatus Roxb.) on both sides of the road. He saw the potential of converting the rubber forest into a public park. However,

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His Majesty’s wish was impossible to fulfill because the villagers farmed in the area.

• Experimental rice fields. These were first carried out in 1961 when His Majesty kindly ordered the then Department of Rice and the present-day Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, to test the cultivation of a variety of rice species. During the test, His Majesty drove a tractor and sowed the tested rice seeds Himself. Additional rice seeds were used at the Royal Ploughing Ceremony.

• Scientific laboratory. This was built in 1983 to examine the quality of several products from the Royal Chitralada Personal Projects.

• Plant tissue culture laboratory. This was introduced in 1985 with the objective of propagating plant genes, taking into account good species and their abundance in the Royal Palace. These included the Samor (genus Terminalia ), pud (Ervatamia divaricata Burkill), jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), bread fruit (Artocarpus altilis) and Chaulmoora (Hydnocarpus anthelminthicus Pierre). The goal was to increase their number within a short time.

• Wastewater treatment project. This project commenced in 1985 following His Majesty’s Royal Address on growing water hyacinth to eliminate sewage at Chitralada Royal Palace . Hyacinth is soaked in sewage (without any heavy metal) and is then composted, while heavy metal-contaminated hyacinth was tamped with ground rice husk to produce fuel briquettes. In 1994 His Majesty established a wastewater treatment project to treat polluted water and make it drinkable.

• Spirulina project. This was established in 1986 when liquid by-products derived from bio-gas production was used in growing Spirulina, which was consequently processed into fish feed.

• Tilapia fish. At a special occasion in 1965, the Emperor of Japan, then the Crown Prince, graciously offered 50 pieces of Tilapia nilotica to His Majesty. The fish was at first raised in a pond at Chitralada Royal Palace . His Majesty named the fish Pla Nil and kindly allowed fish culture to be practiced at Chitralada Royal Palace , leading to nationwide breeding and popularity of tilapia fish.

• Bio-gas production. This was implemented in 1978 by the Department of Health and the Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University. Cow dung was processed to produce cooking gas for dairy farms, demonstrating a beneficial utilization of farm wastes.

Semi-Business Projects Semi-business projects market their products at reasonable prices. The projects are not profit-oriented but are intended to promote public awareness of inexpensive quality goods manufactured in Thailand. The projects mentioned below are good examples.

• Chitralada dairy farm. This was started in 1962 when five female cattle and one male cow were presented as a tribute to His Majesty. His Majesty issued a Royal order to raise dairy cows in collaboration with the Department of Livestock Development. The milk was distributed to members of the farm. The male calves were given a Royal pedigree.

• Dusit milk powder plant. This commenced in 1969 due to an oversupply of unprocessed milk. Members of the Dairy Farmers Group submitted a petition to His Majesty and He constructed a powder milk plant at Chitralada Royal Palace and to name it Dusit Milk Powder Plant.

• Chitralada milk collection center. This was initiated in 1969-70 in the early stages of milk powder production, which faced many hurdles resulting in consistent losses of sales. A milk repository was thus built in order to subsidize the milk powder plant’s production of pasteurized and homogenized milk for marketing to plant members, schools and interested distributors.

• Chitralada model rice mill. This was conceived in 1971. His Majesty requested that a rice mill be built together with different types of silos and barns to store unprocessed rice grain. Prior to this, His Majesty was offered a rice mill with a capacity to mill one rice cart per hour.

• Rice husk compacting plant. This was initiated in 1987 when His Majesty brought rice husk derived from the model rice mill to be crushed and compacted into fuel briquettes. The briquettes were burnt to produce charcoal for sale. Market response was moderate.

• Dusit milk tablet plant. This was initiated in 1984 in order to improve the old method of milk tablet

manufacture which was first introduced in 1969. With the improvement, sales of milk powder and milk tablets increased.

Milk tablets are distributed in assorted flavors, such as milk, chocolate, and coffee.

• Alcohol distillery. This was established in 1986 as a research project on substitute fuel based on His Majesty’s initiative. The planting of sugar cane was promoted in order to produce additional incomes for farmers. Some 95 percent of alcohol is distilled from sugar cane and sugar dregs. The distilled alcohol is converted into solid alcohol. Further experiments on the appropriate ratio for mixing 95 percent alcohol with benzene have resulted in the production of gasohol as a new source of energy.

• Cheese plant. This was set up in 1987 to study the feasibility of cheese production in order to research, experiment and promote cheese making as a supplementary occupation. Cheddar cheese and processed cheese were used to produce gouda cheese. The project is also capable of manufacturing butter, fat-free milk, drinking yoghurt, ice cream, and sweetened condensed milk in a tube.

• Mushroom farm. This was started in 1988 for the purpose of planting all sorts of fungi by using agricultural waste as raw material for mushroom cultivation. After harvesting the produce, the waste can be used in the production of compost.

• Mulberry (Sa) paper mill. This was constructed in 1991 by His Majesty, focusing on research and development of a complete production cycle of mulberry paper, as well as on its potential as a supplementary occupation for interested people.

• Fruit juice cannery. This takes its roots from a factory prototype set up in 1992, demonstrating a complete cycle of fruit juice production. The fruit juice products were condensed, pasteurized or canned. These were produced for farmers and other people who were interested in observing the process and applying their new knowledge by producing specific types of juice.

It is clear that the Royal Chitralada Projects put their emphasis on the economical use of natural and agricultural resources as well as on resources maximization using simple production processes.

The application of scientific and technological breakthroughs supports study, research and experimentation from which useful information and results are obtained and disseminated to farmers and various parties interested in the Royal Chitralada Projects.

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Royal Projects

In addition to initiating many projects in the

Chitralada Royal Palace , His Majesty also seeks first hand information from the people during His visits around the country. He is particularly interested in the difficulties that they face. When His Majesty made a private visit to hilltribe areas in 1969, He closely observed their means of livelihood and used His observations as basic information for His consideration regarding the types of assistance needed to improve their living standards.

His Royal Address at the Rotary Club Night is quoted in part, as follows:

“On January 29, I took a helicopter to visit an opium field in bloom. I walked for 25 minutes to reach a Hmong Village, called New Mae Sa, which was located not much lower from the original Mae Sa. At the new Mae Sa, we set up a tiny makeshift health station that provided care and service for two hours. I also brought with me three good piglets for breeding and plants to be grown and fed to the pigs.�

Aside from His concern about the hilltribe communities’ means of livelihood and hardships, alongside His efforts to find ways to help them, His Majesty was also worried about their livestock on which they depend for their subsistence.

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Seeing a tiny swine dragging its pot belly along the ground like a malnourished pig, His Majesty was inspired to make a Royal contribution to the hilltribes, consisting of piglets of a good pedigree. He also issued a Royal command which stated that plants suitable as pig feed should be grown.

An attendant to the King said that problems concerning the pigs are not insubstantial because the pigs that were given to the villagers were hybrid ones. If the pigs are not sufficiently fed, they will help themselves by hunting for chicken, leading the villagers to think that these might be demon pigs. However, His Majesty reassured them with a remark that encouraged them to grow plants for feeding the pigs. This particular idea is said to have been the inspiration for a Royal project that is focused on agriculture.

On 28 January 1970, His Majesty took a trip from the Phu Ping Palace to Ban Maew (a Hmong village) in Doi Pui. In summary, His Majesty told the Hmong hilltribes that instead of opium, they should collect and sell small local peaches which were sold at almost the same price as opium. His Majesty informed them that Kasetsart University had an experimental garden consisting of temperate fruit trees, located opposite the Palace. The garden successfully grafted big exotic peaches with indigenous species. His Majesty granted 200,000 Baht to the University to grow temperate trees on the highland. His Majesty said that He believed this could be more profitable than growing opium. This encouraged the hilltribes not to grow opium and therefore not inflict any damage to forest and water resources.

As further support, His Majesty generously enlarged the garden and Kasetsart University looked for land nearby to conduct research, experiment and propagation of various temperate trees.

To signify its prosperous future, the enlarged garden was named Suan Song Saen (or a two hundred thousand garden) and the Royal Projects were implemented accordingly.

During His annual visit to the North, His Majesty stays at Phu Ping Palace in Chiang Mai Province. His Majesty takes the opportunity to visit hilltribe communities in many provinces in the North. He has seen for Himself hilltribe communities growing opium and living in poor conditions. He has also seen them encroaching into forests and watersheds, posing severe threats to other parts of the country.

There was a time when His Majesty allowed foreign diplomatic missions stationed in Thailand to follow Him into many hilltribe villages to discover their real life situations and their recurring problems. In the meantime, His Majesty issued a request to the diplomatic missions for them to consider granting as much aid as they could for the benefit of hilltribe communities. Later His Majesty started to promote agricultural

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work among the hilltribes, providing them flora and fauna species, such as, tapioca, beans, rice, and pedigree pigs in order to help them earn incomes that are not lower than what they would have earned from planting opium.

In 1969, His Majesty founded a personal project under the name, Royal Hilltribes Assistance Project. This was modified afterwards to fit with changing circumstances as the Royal Hilltribe Development Project. In 1992, the project was finally registered under the name, Royal Project Foundation.

Since its establishment, the Royal Project Foundation has granted many scholarship awards. Some awardees include researchers from Kasetsart University, Chiang Mai University and several government bodies. From 1969-1992, the majority of scholarships granted were supported by the Department of Agriculture, U.S.A., and the Republic of China (Taiwan). The Foundation also supports a number of research activities. These research projects and the topics covered are as follows.

• Fruit-tree research project • Vegetable research project • Flower and ornamental plant research project • Farm plant research project • Plant pest research project • Special plant project • Research project for special project • Post-harvest research project • Animal farming research project • Agricultural system research project • Plant propagation research project • Research project for research promotion • Forestry research project Beyond research work, the Royal Projects extends the application of research results by welcoming hilltribe farmers to participate in commercial operations and research at the same time. Problems found in experimental agricultural plots have been specifically addressed so that the promotion of cash crop to replace opium could advance very fast. Problems found in the farmers’ land have been resolved. In addition, training hs been provided to educate hilltribe communities and the border police patrol.

In 1973, the Royal Projects were subsidized based on a cooperation program with ARS-U.S.DA (Agricultural Research Service-U.S. Department of Agriculture) to promote research on related matters so that the beneficial results could be shared with hilltribe communities for them to practice, as well as to come up with another crop as an alternative to opium.

In 1980, the Royal Projects began to promote the cultivation of temperate cash crops as a substitute for opium

through the efforts of project officers based in a central project center known as the Royal Development Center. During this period, activities under the Royal Projects were increasingly expanded. There were 34 Royal Development Centers with permanent officers on site. The centers have contributed to the achievement of research work and the knowledge gained has been used to support hilltribe farmers. As part of the promotional work of the Royal Projects, temperate zone trees tolerant of cold weather are grown on highlands, yielding new produce for markets throughout the country. The project’s marketing arm sells the products under the brand name Doikham, meaning the hill (Doi) that is prosperous and precious as gold (Thong Kham). A Plant Custody Unit and a Plant Laboratory have been set up to provide advice and solve relevant problems, to prevent diseases, pest and insects from damaging the products of hilltribe farmers, and to grow non-toxic produce. Aside from agricultural activities, the Royal Projects also embrace the development of education and public health, drug eradication as well as treatment of drug addicts.

Since many research projects have led to beneficial outcomes, the Royal Projects therefore have made use of these results to promote the hilltribes so that their products could grow in range and number. At the early stage, a private company was contracted to be the sole distributor of the project’s products, but the venture was quite unsuccessful. In 1983, the Royal Projects made a request to Kasetsart University to use land belonging to the Department of Horticulture in the Faculty of Agriculture to erect a marketing unit for the Royal Projects.

Marketing was successful and later on harvested produce could also be stored. Each plant/vegetable should be closely checked and potential losses from the time of harvest to distribution should be prevented.

Another vital work that the Royal Projects initiated is the construction of the Royal Food Processing Factory, which handles oversupply of products or odd-sized products to be processed for distribution, in order to help the hilltribes gain more from their own produce and prevent their being taken advantage of by other factories. In the early years, the Royal Food Processing Factory was situated at Chiang Mai University, carrying out empirical research at that time. Two other businesssized factories were built at Fang District, Chiang Mai and at Mae Chan District, Chiang Rai Province.

Not many years ago, the Royal Projects were popularly recognized as the most peaceful method to solve the problem of opium plantations as well as to encourage hilltribes to engage in sustainable agriculture. There was no evidence of conflicts.

The Royal Projects were being implemented so effectively that they were selected to receive the Ramon Magsaysay Award for International Understanding by the Magsaysay Foundation in the Philippines in 1988.

In 1992, His Majesty decided to change the status of the Royal Projects by registering it as a foundation under the name, Royal Project Foundation, making the project a juristic body with proper legal status so that work can be carried out systematically and in a secure way onwards. His Majesty was the Honorable President and He kindly granted 500,000 Baht for the inauguration of the Foundation. Accordingly, the Royal Projects have been elevated from the rank of project administration to a kind of foundation management. This means that the Foundation Committee decides policies and another committee implements them, similar to the function of an executive committee with responsibility for general administration.

To implement policies in the most convenient and practical way, work is assigned to different divisions, as follows: Office

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Affairs Division, Financial and Accounting Division, Research Division, Development Division and Marketing Division.

With His far-sighted vision His Majesty has steered the administration of the Foundation towards a wonderful success story. Functions and responsibilities are separated clearly. As the Foundation expands, His Majesty has plans for a handful of small projects that have the potential to achieve huge strides and become permanent public welfare organs with specific, flexible and effective systems of work. This will enable the projects to cooperate and coordinate with government agencies and private bodies in carrying out unique patterns of innovative work and research, specifically in developing the products of the Royal Projects and making them consistent and marketable.

Furthermore, the Royal Projects under a streamlined administration will be a pilot project for transferring new technology crucial for highland development, as well as for adding value to produce and products of the Royal Projects, ensuring at the same time that the environment and major watersheds of the country are duly conserved.

In order to manage head watershed areas according to conservation principles, research and development of forests in mountain areas have been conducted throughout all regions of the country in pursuance of His Majesty’s recommendations.

Particularly, the Northern Region accommodates many royal agriculture centers and stations, one of which is the Royal Angkhang Agricultural Station. This is like a pilot project that serves as a central point for research activities and highland forestry development. There is an experimental wild plant garden with many species that are growing well. These species have been selected based on their usefulness. For example, a small Philippine acacia (Acacia confusa) is grown as a suitable cover for head watershed areas as well as for firewood because of its thick crown and the high heating value of its grain, which is as high as that of mangroves.

Apart from the small Philippine acacia, a fragrant maple (Liquidambar formosana) is grown for the cultivation of Shiitake Mushroom while the Camphor tree (Cinnamomum comphora) is planted for its grain which is much admired in the wood carving business. Also, extracts of fragrant oil can be obtained from its leaves, as done by the Thai-China Flavors and Fragrances Industry Co. Ltd., which has its factory at Lad Bua Luang District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province.

The Paulownia wood (Paulownia taiwaniana) is good for making dulcimers, guitars and expensive jewelry boxes.

The Taiwanese Giant Bamboo (Dendrocalamus latiflorus) has culms that are as big as those of a sweet bamboo (Dendrocalamus asper Backer). Another sweet bamboo (Bambusa oldhami) has culms that are smaller than those of the Taiwanese Giant Bamboo and tastes sweet enough to make it into a salad dish. The Monopodium Bamboo (Phyllostachys lithophia and Phyllostachys makinoi) has the same small culms as the indigenous Thai Monastery Bamboo (Thyrsostachys siamensis Gamble) and is commonly used for crutching fruittree stalks.

Clearly, there has been gradual progress in the work of the Royal Project Foundation. Project organization has been developed and put in place so that project activities are conducted in a modern way, resulting in more benefits. The establishment of Doi Kham Food Products Co., Ltd., came after the Royal Project Foundation was founded. His Majesty duly considered changing the status of the Royal Food Processing Factory from one that was implemented as a project to one that fell under company administration with the name, Doi Kham Food Products Co., Ltd. The company was placed under the Crown Property Bureau as main stakeholder, in order to modernize its management and make it a self-sufficient business operation. Major considerations included the following: • Adjust the administration of the dried flower project, enabling it to work flexibly, earn and be a self-reliant business.

• Build plant tissue culture research and development laboratories in a three storey-building with cooperation from the Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, for the purpose of conducting both research and development as well as propagating plant species by tissue culture.

• Establish a cooperation project with the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives to improve the provision of credit service for agricultural activities conducted in the Royal Project, making it the same as that provided for farmers in general.

• Cooperate with government agencies through the Royal Project Foundation Committee, which is presided over by the Prime Minister, the Highland Agricultural Development Division, and the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, serving as secretariat to facilitate related work according to a Cabinet Resolution.

The Royal Project has been conceived based on His Majesty the King’s determination never to be discouraged by any hardship, such that His initiation of the Royal Project has been magnificently successful up to the present time.

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Royal Rain Project A lso Royal-initiated by His Majesty the King was

the introduction of technology for artificial rain, which is popularly used in foreign countries. Recognizing the need to mitigate the dire effects of droughts, His Majesty requested Mom Rajavongse Teparit Devakul, an agricultural engineer at the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, to further study the experimental procedure, and the Ministry, acting in response to His Majesty’s idea, founded the Artificial Rainmaking Experimental Project and appointed a rainmaking operations team. On 20 July 1969, the first rainmaking experiment was conducted at Khao Yai National Park in Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. Dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) was dropped from an airplane onto the top of cumulus clouds which are the most suitable clouds for rainmaking. Within approximately 15 minutes, the clouds were tightly agglomerated, becoming taller and bigger. Their color then changed from white to gray as rain appeared ready to fall. Unfortunately, the rain was invisible behind the high mountain ridges.

His Majesty made a Royal recommendation to transfer the experimental site from Khao Yai National Park to the ThaiIsrael Rural Development Project Center in Cha-am District, Phetchaburi Province and the Khao Tao Village Development Project Center in Hua Hin District, Prachuap Khirikhan Province.

Both locations had been experiencing droughts for many consecutive years. Moreover, experimental observations could be done better in these new areas as the border police patrol unit on duty west of the Tanaosri Mountain Ridge, the windward side of the experimental targets, could be requested to report back promptly using the police communications network. In case of excessive rainfall, this could be drained to the sea in order to prevent inundation and damage to local residents.

The operational site at the mentioned areas was often used later. The results of succeeding experiments enabled successful rainmaking in the target areas.

At present, artificial rain or Royal Rain (Phon Luang) is conducted by dispersing chemical substances from a plane, taking into account current weather conditions. Firstly, steam is collected in the air to form clouds, then the clouds are built

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or grown bigger, and finally the clouds are bombarded so that rain will fall in the target areas. Operational procedures for rainmaking are kindly elaborated upon by His Majesty as follows:

Step 1: Instigation Instigation is the first step and it begins with forming clouds until these grow vertically. To execute this step, a chemical substance is scattered to stimulate the air mass to rise to a high altitude. Then, humidity will be induced and rain clouds will be built up. The optimal time to implement this step should be in the morning before 10 o’clock. The chemical that absorbs steam from the air mass is spread windward to the target area in order to stimulate the gathering of vapor and the formation of clouds. Once the clouds are accumulated; they will grow vertically and the chemicals for exothermic reaction will be released in a circle or leeward direction to initiate the Cloud Condensation Nucleus (CCN).

Step 2: Fattening Fattening refers to impregnating the rain clouds completely. This step is very important. Operational officers onboard need technology, experience and Royal rainmaking techniques to base their decision on the kind of chemicals that should be sprayed, the location of rain clouds to be sprayed, and the optimal chemical ratio so that the clouds are not dissolved and are able to grow as high altitude as needed.

Step 3: Bombarding Bombardment is the last step in the rainmaking procedure. When the rain clouds are sufficiently condensed, they contain a lot of large water droplets. If a plane flies into said clouds, water gathered on its wing and nose would be relatively thick. At this stage, the operational objectives or goals should be weighed, choosing whether to increase the rain in general or restrict the rain within target areas. In practice the methods of bombarding and use of chemicals for each operation are different.

Artificial Rain refers to a way of managing water resource in the air. It is a process by which water in the atmosphere is utilized by inducing vapor to be condensed to water fine sprays. When the sprays are thickly clustered and they begin to make up clouds, the clouds are stimulated to group tightly and multiply, falling down as raindrops. Artificial rain is counted as a measure to help increase the amount of surface water and ground water as well as to dampen all areas, in addition to natural seasonal rain.

His Majesty studied the technology of rainmaking with great interest and diligently followed up the results of related R&D on rainmaking. His Majesty Himself sought technological knowledge and experience from academic documents, reports of experiments in foreign countries, the work of meteorological specialists in Thailand and other experts who were members of relevant advisory committees and who had submitted reports and recommendations that involved analyses of operational results. From time to time, His Majesty also participated in

planning and directing experimental operations concerned with rainmaking.

His Majesty was concerned about the potential impact of rainmaking operations on the villagers’ produce and property.

Therefore, His Majesty would keep an eye on weather conditions and weather forecasts during the operations, immediately contacting the operational mission for new developments. For instance, His Majesty issues a Royal order to immediately stop operations in case a depression suddenly enters the country, possibly bringing in too much rain. He may also expedite operations when the weather condition is favorable and there is sufficient rainfall to alleviate a dry spell.

His Majesty built a Special Royal Rainmaking Center at the Chitralada Royal Palace to research, experiment and develop the rainmaking technology. His Majesty provided some advice on the technical training of officers, in order to facilitate the results of rainmaking and to instill among technocrats and rainmaking operators the importance of researching and

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developing rainmaking procedures. In addition to assistance from the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, the center, with financial support from His Majesty’s personal funds, provides help to a large number of people who are affected by droughts.

At the same time, His Majesty has provided recommendations regarding rainmaking techniques and processes to the operational teams. The Director of the Bureau of Royal Rainmaking and Agriculture Aviation, Office of the PermanentSecretary to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, has summarized the guidelines as follows: An academic who can draw up a good rainmaking plan is a person who is determined to carry out rainmaking seriously, resolutely, and joyfully and, with the disposition of an artist and a delicate sense of atmospheric changes, he or she should

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try to understand the natural role and mechanism of cloud formation and rain creation. He or she should have a psychologically charismatic character to communicate with others in order to generate unity at work, and he or she should learn the following techniques: 1. First of all, study the target and scale of rainmaking operations.

2. Study and analyze the geography of the target area and surrounding areas, its relation to the scattering of rain and the amount of rainfall, in order to define the primary and secondary target areas.

3. In each target area, select an operational area in which circumstantial conditions mostly support rainfall as primary target. For instance, forests, mountains, and lush

agricultural land contain a higher record of precipitation than other places, enabling them to build up moisture on the ground first. The operational scale is extended and becomes wider in the next stage. An area that is less suitable is categorized as secondary target and is essentially for supplementary operations when rain clouds are available.

4. Select the operational area. Line the place with a chemical spray as natural clouds increase, forming up to serve as storage of clouds that are fed to the target area, such as high ridge mountains, and to maximize the benefits of nature.

5. If the operational area for pouring chemical spray in item 4 is not found because the target area in need of rain is a vast plain, or the wind direction and velocity are not in favor of using the area mentioned in item 4, consider the formation of Middle Clouds (Altostratus and Altocumulus) and High Clouds (Cirrocumulus and Cirrostratus), as well as irrigated and non-irrigated areas. This is because those factors affect the deviation of wind direction and velocity at each altitude and the formation of traction force in each locality.

6. Regularly and on a daily basis, study and analyze relationships between wide-area meteorological data and local data to determine the level that favors precipitation in a local area. General or wide-area meteorological information helps to know patterns of cloud formation, the scattering of rain, and changes in the volume of rainfall. Accordingly, such meteorological data will support local data and ensure that it is precise. Local data tell the origin of clouds, character or type and quantity of clouds as well as the expected period of rainfall in each locality, including velocity, direction of upper wind, moisture, relative humidity and temperature of each atmospheric level.

Study and try to forecast the location and period of clouding and rain formation in each area everyday to gain more rainmaking experience.

7. Design the steps to spray chemicals. The number of airplanes on duty and their capacity should be considered

in order to adjust the operations’ scheme in compliance with rain cloud changes. Pay attention to ongoing operations in order to increase the efficiency of rain cloud inducement.

8. Follow up the outcome of the operations closely and regularly by radar and collaborate with local organs regarding reports of effective rainfall observations. The results should be analyzed to determine the causes of problems in order to improve future operational plans.

In the beginning, artificial rain was considered as a new technology. Even in foreign countries there were scant information and academic evidence to support the results of rainmaking technology. Also, there were not enough developments to build up academic confidence. Besides, in Thailand there was no single specialist on weather modification or artificial rain. Hence, in the inaugural stage of research and experiment, based on His Majesty’s serious concern over the welfare of the Thai people, with the majority lacking water for cultivation and consumption due to droughts and delayed rain, His Majesty supported a great number of studies and researches and the development of rainmaking technology.

The Royal Rainmaking Project has made very fast progress compared with similar projects in other countries, especially signatory countries to the World Meteorology Organization. The Organization recognizes the impact of the Royal Rainmaking Project in modifying the weather in tropical regions, including ASEAN countries, and credits Thailand as a hub for rainmaking activities in tropical zones in the ASEAN region. Many countries have adopted the Royal Rainmaking Project’s strategy in their operational guidelines. These countries include Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Many countries have made requests for information and technology exchange, including Australia, Italy, France, China, and other countries with relevant advanced technology. Canada and U.S.A. have jointly developed and cooperated in Royal Rainmaking Project activities.

The Royal Rainmaking Project is one way by which to prevent and mitigate drought conditions, apart from head watershed area conservation, reforestation, and construction of water supply systems.

Its success is attributed to the wisdom and generosity of His Majesty who has assisted the farmers as if He were the father of all Thais, looking after them and caring for every living creature in the Kingdom. His Majesty’s outpouring of generosity is like rain that falls to revive arid lands, nourishes them and makes them as abundant as ever.

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Kaem Ling Project Lowlands or areas that are regularly inundated and are of little use for planting need to be drained to make them cultivable. Most of these lands are low-lying plains, like basins that store water flowing down from higher areas or from canals.

These areas cannot be drained naturally and they collect water for many months each year. The Kaem Ling Project (Kaem means cheeks, Ling means monkey) not only enables farmers to use of lowlands for cultivation, but it also solves problems associated with poor drainage systems in some lowland areas.

Heavy rain that lasts for long hours often causes floods and damages property. The Royal project on drainage helps to alleviate the impact of flood disasters.

Deeply concerned about the situation in Bangkok, His Majesty studied, researched and put in tremendous efforts to figure out solutions to particular problems in the city. His Majesty granted responsible agencies periodic Royal audiences (or as often as needed), engaging them in brainstorming sessions on effective measures against flood problems.

His Majesty issued an order to monitor weather conditions as well as to track expected storms. He requested for precise information, a compilation of precipitation data in Bangkok, the amount of water from the eastern side of the Chao Phraya River and from the Chao Phraya River, and the application of applied physics to analyze rain and surface water together as database for the design of a sufficient water drainage system.

To rapidly drain water from floods caused by heavy rain, His Majesty suggested to irrigate water from fields north and east of Bangkok southwards to the sea, using an existing drainage system. The system drained water from the northern and eastern fields off to the sea, without inundating or flowing into Prakanong and Bang Na Districts. Accordingly, this helped to rapidly drain flood water in Prakanong and Bang Na areas into canals and the Chao Phraya River. It also helped to drain water along the Thonburi-Pak Tor Highway and the Prayamontri Canal, reducing the flood level and significantly easing flood problems in the Thonburi area.

Green zones have been selected for their potential transformation as drainage channels, the width and length of which have been fixed to cope with the expansion of the city and to support the irrigation and drainage of excess water from heavy rains in farmlands engulfing Bangkok in the north

and the east, and preventing water from flowing to communities in the west. This green zone scheme has been pursued in compliance with measures to expedite water drainage.

A characteristic of Bangkok’s natural landscape is the low ground level. In case of flooding, draining water from affected areas can be very slow. Most of the canals and rivers are very slightly sloped and the waterways are shallow and obstructed by weeds. For these reasons, floods in Bangkok and surrounding areas stay for a long time. The flood crisis in 1995 was due to heavy rains throughout the Chao Phraya lowlands, particularly in the upper and lower basins of the Chao Phraya River. Because of this kind of terrain, large amountd of water surged down the Chao Phraya River, flooding many provinces and inevitably inundating Bangkok and surrounding areas, submerging these places under water for over two months.

His Majesty was concerned about the sufferings of His subjects because of floods. He tried His best to solve the problem and conscientiously provided advice throughout the crisis to concerned government agencies, joining hands with civilians in harmoniously solving urgent challenges and paving the way for relevant short- and long-term plans. The Royal Irrigation Department was among the main agencies that responded to His Majesty’s recommendations. His Majesty’s wisdom and genuine concern for His subjects served as foundation for a project to address the recurring problem of flooding in Bangkok and surrounding areas. His Majesty described the Royal-initiated Kaem Ling (monkey cheeks) Project in the east and west of the Chao Praya River in these words: “In general, if we give a bunch of bananas to a monkey, it will quickly peel the fruit, and keep almost the entire bunch in its cheeks; later it will chew the bananas and swallow them.”

“The monkey’s behavior to store a bunch of bananas or most any type food in its cheeks before swallowing offers us an idea concerning how we can store, in a specific place, flood water that has been drained from inundated areas along the eastern and western banks of the Chao Phraya River.”

The Royal-initiated Kaem Ling Project involves drainage work from the upper areas through canals northwards and

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southwards to large storage canals near the seashore, including coastal canals on the eastern bank that will help store water in large reservoirs known as Kaem Ling. When the sea level is below that in the storage canals, water is drained from the canals through the use of regulators, following the theory of natural gravity. Meanwhile, water is also pumped out of the Kaem Ling canals and released to the sea, until the remaining amount of water reaches the lowest desired amount. This facilitates the movement of water from the higher ground, allowing it to automatically flow down to the storage and, as a consequence, help to ease the flood in flood-stricken areas.

When the sea level is higher than the water level in the storage canals, the regulator is shut in order to prevent the reverse flow of water, based on the one-way flow principle.

The Kaem Ling Project will be as effective and as successful as His Majesty wishes it to be by closely adhering to the following three points:

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1. Locations for water reservoirs and methods to draw flood to the reservoirs should be carefully considered.

2. Waterways that enhance water flow to storage ponds should be well planned.

3. Water in storage ponds and canals should be continuously drained.

In response to these Royal recommendations, natural ponds and swamps and natural waterways or bare lands have been regarded as water storage sites and water channels to steer water to storage areas, from where they will be drained later depending on the availability of each area. Results of the study on project design can be divided into two parts as follows:

Kaem Ling Project on the East Bank of the Chao Phraya River The project is designed to accommodate water in the east bank of the Chao Phraya River (covering Saraburi, Phra

Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi Provinces and Bangkok), flowing along canal ramifications down to coastal canals that are used as water storage areas. Ponds, swamps or unused lands, if appropriate, are considered as additional storage reservoirs. Besides, natural canals from the north to the south are also used to irrigate water in and out of storage ponds. Related activities include dredging of existing canals, weed eradication, construction and improvement of pumping stations, construction of regulators, and improvement of flood protection dikes. Activities implemented by the Royal Irrigation Department includes dredging of 60 canals in areas under the operation and maintenance project of the North Rangsit Canal, the South Rangsit Canal, Dan Canal, and Pra-ong Chaiyanuchit Canal, totalling 557.12 kilometers. Weed eradication has been conducted in 41 canals totaling 520.94 kilometers in length, while construction and improvement have been carried out involving 11 pumping stations. Three regulators have been constructed and two flood protection dikes have been improved.

Kaem Ling Project on the West Bank of the Chao Praya River This project is aimed at storing water west of the Chao Praya River, starting from provinces of Ang Thong, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom, Bangkok and Samut Sakhon. Water flows down to Maha Chai Canal-Sanamchai Canal and Tha Chin River and is drained to the sea at Samut Sakhon Province. Related work includes dredging of canals, weed eradication, and construction of regulators together with pumping stations. Some of these have been carried out. Some examples include dredging of 51 canals in areas under the operation and maintenance project for Chao Chet Bang Yi Hon Canal, Phraya Banlue Canal, Phra Phimon Canal, and Phasi Chareon Canal, totaling 278.94 kilometers; weed eradication in the 31 dredged canals, totaling 329.56 kilometers; and construction of five regulators with pumping stations.

In the above-mentioned areas, there are no embankment walls along the Chao Phraya River and parallel to the sea.

Also, the joints of waterways leading to the sea are not adequately controlled. As a result, when the sea level rises, although water is quickly drained to the Gulf of Thailand through the use of pumping stations, the high tide stops or retards the flow of freshwater to the sea. This causes long periods of severe flooding. His Majesty emphasizes the need to strictly follow appropriate means and procedures to speed up drainage of flood water to the sea.

Kaem Ling Project at the Lower Tha Chin River The project consists of the construction of large regulators as well as huge pumping stations across Tha Chin River, slightly north of Samut Sakhon Province. The aim is to control water in the river by diverting a large amount of water to the Gulf of Thailand when the sea level is lower than the river level. Sea water from the other end is checked and returned to the river when the tide is high. The project is a meaningful, multi-purpose project for the future. It not only reduces the severity of flood in some areas west of the Chao Phraya River, from the southern part of the Southern Train Station (Bangkok Noi) downwards. It also prevents the intrusion of seawater into Tha Chin River in the dry season from January to May, thus maximizing the beneficial use of water for agriculture, industry and domestic consumption.

Kaem Ling Project at Mahachai Canal-Sanamchai Canal The project consists of the construction of regulators with pumping stations. The drainage system will be built to complement the project at the lower Tha Chin River.

On 1 July 1996, His Majesty issued a request to the Committee on Flood Management in Bangkok and Peripheries under His Majesty’s initiative to accelerate the preparation of solutions to flood problems that threatened the west of the Chao Phraya River. This involved the construction of temporary regulators should the permanent foundation of the Kaem Ling Project remain incomplete at that time. On 9 July 1996, the Sub-committee on Studies and Measures for Solutions to Flood Problems in Bangkok and Peripheries, following His Majesty’s remarks, hosted a meeting to make arrangements to manage potential flooding incidents in the rainy season. The meeting proposed a resolution that the Royal Irrigation Department should expedite the construction of temporary regulators and flood protection dikes in Mahachai Canal-Sanamchai Canal and installation of pumping machines in the surrounding areas, particularly those under the project’s work plan, as well as adjacent areas. The Department has duly built temporary flood protection dikes in Mahachai Canal-Sanamchai Canal and regulators in network canals, namely Sahakorn Sai 3 Canal, Chek Canal, Kokham Canal, Samae Dum Canal and South Samae Dum Canal. Machines and necessary equipment were moved to the site on 1 August 1996 and the assigned work was completed on 16 September 1996. Once completely constructed, the Kaem Ling Project on the west of the Chao Phraya River at Mahachai Canal-Sanamchai Canal will improve the drainage of natural waterways in the rainy season and prevent the surge of seawater into waterways and agricultural lands. Also, freshwater north of the regulators will be stored for all types of use.

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Chaipattana Aerator

Since 1988 the deterioration of water quality in

Bangkok has become an increasingly serious problem. Commonly used methods have not effectively treated wastewater. Hence, His Majesty offered His idea to invent a low cost mechanical aerator that is manufactured in Thailand under the slogan, “Thai makes, Thai uses”. His Majesty has adapted the principle behind Look, an indigenous tool that is used to paddle water into the rice paddy. With a view to alleviating the government’s responsibility to treat wastewater, His Majesty requested the Chaipattana Foundation to fund a study and research on this innovative invention of a wastewater treatment equipment, to be produced in cooperation with the Royal Irrigation Department.

Later the mechanical aerator was introduced and became popularly known as the Chaipattana aerator.

On 24 December 1998, His Majesty provided His own sketches and specifications of a prototype slow-speed surface aerator with a floating buoy or Chaipattana aerator. The submerged rotating propeller stirs the water and releases it as a fine spray, making complete contact with air and allowing oxygen in the air to easily dissolve in the water. Polluted water is lifted to mix with the air and then dropped to the

surface, producing bubbles as it sinks underneath to benefit the rotation of additional amounts of oxygen. This Chaipattana aerator model is operated by compressing air, using mixed aerating methods and expelling water dispersion through designed vents.

The experiment on the invention of aerators which is used in many areas for treating wastewater can be demonstrated using nine models as follows: • Chaipattana Aerator Model RX-1 (with air injection and bubbling system) This model includes a batch of pipes to oxygenate dirty water using a blower where air is compressed into the main pipe and dispersed through dispersion tubes. The small ventilation holes are perforated. When wastewater is disturbed, aeration is better. At present, the air compressing equipment is out of use due to its low capacity and problem with clogged dispersion tubes.

• Chaipattana Aerator Model RX-2 (low speed surface aerator with flotation buoy) This aerator is equipped with a submerged rotating propeller that stirs the water and churns it into a fine spray,

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making complete contact with the air above and allowing oxygen in the air to easily dissolve in the water. Polluted water is lifted to mix with the air and then dropped to the surface, making bubbles sink underneath to benefit the rotation of additional amounts of oxygen. This device is operated by compressing air, applying mixed aerating methods, and expelling water dispersion through designed vents. Based on a capacity test, the efficiency of Model RX-2 to transfer oxygen is equivalent to 0.9 kilogram of oxygen per horsepower per hour.

This is installed for experimental purposes at Phramongkutklao Hospital and Baworniwesviharn Temple and at wastewater treatment systems in many areas, including Thansirinthrawas Temple, Nong Sanom District, Sakon Nakhon Province, Srakaew Province and Lop Buri Municipality.

• Chaipattana Aerator Model RX-3 (Chaipattana Super Air Bubble) This model device is designed as a flotation buoy equipped with air compressors for compressing air into eight horizontal bubble dispersion tubes. After the air is compressed, the dispersion tubes can be rotated through oxygenation. The efficiency test on this model shows an oxygen transfer capacity that is equal to 0.75 kilograms of oxygen per horsepower per hour.

• Chaipattana Aerator Model RX-4 (Chaipattana Venturi) A pump is sunk into the water and a driver is used to move the discharged water through the distributor tube.

The ends become a bottleneck, allowing air to be sucked in from above to mix with the compressed water below. This aerator has the capacity to transfer oxygen into the water at a rate of .0.55 kilograms of oxygen per horsepower per hour.

• Chaipattana Aerator Model RX-5 (Chaipattana Air Jet) This aerator model is equipped with a flotation buoy and a submerged high-speed propeller to stir water. Oxygen is drawn from above to efficiently mix with the water below.

This device is used at Prayoonwongsawas Voraviharn Temple and at Ban Bangkae, a support center for the aged and the infirm.

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Chaipattana Aerator Model RX-6 (Chaipattana Water Agitator) A strong propeller with sufficient horsepower is used in this device to stir water and release the water into a very fine spray to mix with the air above. This model can be seen at Makkasan Swamp.

• Chaipattana Aerator Model RX-7 (Chaipattana Hydro Air) This model works by pumping water from below, bringing it into contact with the air above and then injecting it once again under the surface, causing turbulence in the water beneath.

• Chaipattana Aerator Model RX-8 (Chaipattana Bio) This device is used in the wastewater treatment process.

Ropes are used as medium for micro-organisms to reside in.

• Chaipattana Aerator Model RX-9 (Chaipattana Fountain) This aerator is fixed with a motor on top and the axle is connected to rotate a submerged water pump. When the motor operates, the pump will blow water into the distributor tubes where air is compressed into the main pipe and, at a higher speed, spread through the dispersion tubes where small vent holes are drilled. This transforms the water into a very fine spray to mix well with the air above.

Starting in May 1989, Chaipattana aerators have been installed as part of wastewater treatment systems in various locations. Through constant upgrading, Chaipattana aerators have worked effectively in treating wastewater. Convenient to use and easy to maintain, they also save on costs and have a long life. The aerators have proved to be tremendously successful in treating wastewater and making it more oxygenated, thus reducing if not eliminating its pungent smell. As a result, aquatic animals, such as tortoises, snapping turtles and fish, are able to live safely in the water and sediments and other waste matters are reduced. Many organizations, including government and private agencies, have put in their requests for the installation of Chaipattana aerators as soon as possible.

The Department of Intellectual Property in the Ministry of Commerce has registered patent no. 3127 under the name of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, documenting the invention of the Chaipattana aerator on 2 February 1993.

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Makkasan Swamp Royal-initiated Makkasan Swamp Wastewater Treatment Project using Water Hyacinth as Filter The Makkasan Swamp is a huge swamp lying in the heart of Bangkok. Excavated by the State Railways of Thailand in 1931, the Swamp is 15 meters deep, 60 meters wide and 2,380 meters long. The total area is approximately 92 rai. For many years, the Swamp has served as a receptacle for drained liquid and sewage as well as used oil from the Makkasan railway depot. Inevitably the Swamp has become shallow because of the settlement of suspended substances. To make matters worse, in the vicinity of the Swamp are the three slum communities of Rachtapan, Samsen and Tub Kaew, accounting for a total of 729 households that dump most of their refuse and solid waste into the Swamp. Water in the Swamp has become rotten and the Swamp itself is now a breeding ground for germs.

Concerned about pollution problems affecting His loyal subjects, His Majesty, on 15 April 1985, called on relevant bodies to help rehabilitate the Swamp through better drainage and treatment of wastewater in the Samsen Canal by using a natural filter. An experiment was done on the hyacinth, a common weed that needed to be controlled and destroyed, to absorb filth and toxic substances present in polluted water. His Majesty stressed that using the hyacinth as a natural filter should be economical and should not cause problems for local residents.

His timely reminder was intended to guide the project’s implementation in an uncomplicated manner. This would involve water from Samsen Canal being pumped into the Makkasan Swamp, while water at the other end of the canal is drained out. A distance of 100 to 200 meters is maintained between the two ends. Another way is to dig a drainage ditch to drain contaminated water through the Asoke-Din Daeng drainage ditch.

Hyacinth that grows in the middle of the Swamp is kept tidy to filter wastewater. As necessary, hyacinth is collected occasionally and used to make compost or fuel but not to

feed livestock because of the heavy metal content of the weed.

Wastewater treatment at the Makkasan Swamp is based on a natural treatment system, known as the Wind Blow and Sunshine System, which is mainly composed of a 0.5 to 2-meter deep mud swamp through which sunlight can thoroughly penetrate. The floating hyacinth absorbs nutrients and heavy metals from polluted water from Samsen Canal. This natural treatment system can clean 30,000 to 100,000 cubic meters of wastewater everyday.

This system works based on the reactions of aquatic plant, algae, and bacteria to one another. During the day, algae, which are green water plants, use photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide present in water and sunlight into food or carbohydrates to produce new cells, a by-product of which is oxygen. The bacteria make use of oxygen for cleaning wastewater. A derivative from this reaction is carbon dioxide, an essential component in algae life. Therefore, algae and bacteria can live together inter-dependently (symbiosis). The volume of oxygen, which is low in this case, restricts the growth of bacteria. As a result, the reaction speed of BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) is relatively marginal. The oxidation pond requires a sufficiently large space as the efficiency of the treatment system depends not only on the amount of oxygen from photosynthesis but also on the controlled growth of hyacinth, making sure that the weed does not block the sunlight.

The hyacinth will sponge up nutrients and heavy metals in the water. The hyacinth grows within 14 to 16 weeks and is removed from the Swamp once every 10 weeks. Once removed, it can be utilized as compost, fuel and animal food, as appropriate. Treated water from the Swamp is released to the canals and is replaced by the inflow of polluted water that is now subjected to the same treatment cycle.

His Majesty has described Makkasan Swamp as “the natural kidney” of Bangkok, a reservoir to retain and to drain water in the rainy season. The project offers many by-products, such as compost, fuel, and weaving fiber from the hyacinth plant. It also encourages the cultivation of other water plants, such as morning glory, and fosters fish breeding. Without converting it into a public park, the Makkasan Swamp is able to offer a pleasant, natural environment that is simple and economical to maintain. Significantly, it is where His Majesty has conducted researches and experiments for the benefit of all His subjects. The Makkasan Swamp has been successfully developed through His Majesty’s academic know-how in ecology and water pollution treatment together with His visionary insights. All Thais are greatly indebted to His Majesty for His immeasurable concern and generosity.

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Rama IX Swamp Royal-initiated Wastewater Treatment Project at the Rama IX Swamp Using Biological Processes and Mechanical Aerators The Rama IX Swamp, a huge swamp in the middle of Bangkok, covers roughly 130 rai and measures 1,300 meters long. Situated on land belonging to the Bureau of the Crown Property, it is adjacent to Lad Prao Canal and merges with Saen Sap Canal in Huai Khwang District where wastewater pollution has become increasingly intense. Lad Prao Canal, one of Bangkok’s key irrigation canals, is approximately 20 to 30 meters wide and three meters deep. It receives sewage from communities along its banks, where the average BOD value is roughly 19 milligrams per liter, reaching a maximum of 42 milligrams per liter and a minimum of 9 milligrams per liter.

The water is almost black and smells rotten at all times similar to the smell of hydrogen sulfide gas.

The wastewater treatment system at the Rama IX Swamp makes use of air compression, with the aerators increasing the amount of oxygen in the water, which is required by bacteria in order to digest organic substances. As a consequence, the capacity of this aerated pond is higher than

the green pond, which solely relies on natural oxygen from water plants and algae.

Wastewater treatment in an aeration pond is a bio-treatment in which bacteria is the key component for eliminating organic substances in the water through oxidation.

The aeration pond is better known compared with other wastewater treatment systems used in communities and industrial plants. The pond is at least two meters deep, allowing the bacteria’s faster BOD reaction, compared with the rate in an oxidation pond, because more oxygen is compressed in the water by the aerators. The growth of bacteria is not hindered by the oxygenation rate as in an oxidation pond.

The BOD reaction in an aeration pond is many times quicker than in an oxidation pond, in cases where the BOD level is the same for both ponds. An aeration pond needs less space than an oxidation pond, which requires roughly 8 to 10 times more space.

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Wastewater Treatment System using Coagulants Royal-initiated Wastewater Treatment Project Using Chemical Physics of PAC Coagulants The wastewater treatment device using coagulants was introduced in response to His Majesty’s initiative. On 30 June 1994 His Majesty along with the Chaipattana Committee observed the first operation of the PAC treatment device in a field next to the Chaipattana Foundation at Chitralada Royal Palace . On this auspicious occasion, His Majesty gave the device the name TRX-1. Based on recommendations made by His Majesty on related research and development, the following points were drawn up: (i) a feasibility study on the production of PAC (Poly Aluminum Chloride) within the country should be conducted in order to decrease treatment costs; (ii) samples of polluted water, including water from the canals of Samsen, Prem Prachakorn and Saen Sap, should be treated and the quality before and after treatment should be compared in order to isolate germs and sediments, such as heavy metals, so that the water can be used in the production of compost and the quality of precipitated water can be ensured; and, (iii) water can be oxygenated once again using mechanical aerators, with the air injection tube welded into the drainage tube of the processed water.

The PAC wastewater treatment yields very satisfying results. It settles turbid water 3 times better than potash alum does and it poses no harmful effects. Moreover, the PAC treatment facilitates rapid precipitation and saves a lot on costs.

Therefore, the PAC device can play a crucial role in the recycling process, enabling reuse of treated water.

Methods used in the PAC Water Treatment Device Both large and small sediments floating in the huge sewage pond are left to settle. Coagulants are used to facilitate

precipitation of fine suspended and scattered solids in the water. These coagulants include potash alum, ferric chloride, ferric sulfate, sodium alumate and lime. Caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) is used to adjust the water’s pH values. The most recently introduced coagulant is Poly Aluminum Chloride or PAC.

Procedures for PAC Wastewater Treatment Device Step 1: Wastewater is pumped through a tube and an appropriate amount of a coagulant is injected to mix with the wastewater.

Step 2: The mixed wastewater enters a high-speed agitation process. This step allows very fast mixing of the wastewater and coagulant in a spiral-shaped agitation tube, which is designed to control the speed at which the wastewater swirls until the two liquids are completely blended.

Step 3: The wastewater from step 2 flows to a low-speed agitation system that will slow down the speed of the wastewater, allowing the suspended particles to combine and form big lumps and to flow out of the low-speed agitation tank through speed hurdles that are consecutively arranged.

Step 4: The sedimentation system is in the shape of a cylinder tank that will make lumps of suspended particles settle down to the bottom quickly. Once settled, the treated water will spill over the weir of the tank, flowing down through a filter that will sieve suspended elements. Finally, the filtered water will pass through a tube that has many tiny perforations, flowing out as a very fine spray. It will be aerated when it mixes with the air. The treated water can now be used for various purposes.

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Royal Initiative on Flood Management

Flood Management Flood is a natural phenomenon that is hard to control and sometimes occurs in the form of a disaster that comes without sufficient warning. With genuine concern for the welfare of His people, His Majesty, who has been interested in irrigation since His childhood, has devoted Himself to hard work so that He can help to alleviate the sufferings of His loyal subjects.

In His remarks at the opening ceremony of the Third Princess Chulabhorn Science Congress at Shangrila Hotel on 11 December 1995, His Majesty said, “… Regarding water resources development, the major principle is to manage water in terms of quantity and quality.

This is to say that when the quantity of water is too much, it should be drained in a timely manner so that it will not cause difficulties and damages. In the event of a drought, sufficient amount of water should be retained and its quality should be suitable for agriculture, industry and domestic consumption. The problem is that the development of water resources might have some negative effects on the environment.

However, if water is not properly managed, when a natural disaster occurs, it could damage the economy as well as the livelihoods of the people, and bringing about devastating effects on the environment…”

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His Majesty issued a royal command to several concerned agencies to solve, prevent or alleviate the inundation of rivers and canals in the flood season, an occurrence that consequently floods farmlands, destroys plants and damages communities. Floodwater should be drained from flood-prone agricultural areas, making these cultivable by applying methods that are appropriate to the topology of specific localities. The methods to prevent or solve the flood problem are varied in terms of efficiency and associated expenditures, as seen in the following.

Improvement of Waterway Topology This method is aimed at improving and modifying watercourses to ensure smooth and fast water flow, thus reducing the amount of water that gushes down watercourses in the flood season and mitigating potential damages caused by floods. To improve the capacity of waterways to flow uninterruptedly or more rapidly, the features of watercourses should be improved using appropriate measures, as for example, modifying the slopes of river banks and river beds to make them less rough, adding cross-sectional areas by digging and expanding watercourses as well as making new slopes by excavating new and shorter waterways, dredging shallow areas, rehabilitating soil banks eroded by water currents, and completely eradicating weeds and other obstructions. If there are too many curves along a river over a long distance, the excavation of a new watercourse may be considered in order to make a shortcut from the curve at the upper part of the river to meet the curve at the lower part, ensuring that the bend is harmonious with the natural condition of the watercourse. The newly dug shortcut will draw a certain amount of water that will pass through easily because it has more slopes than a naturally winding river.

However, dredging the waterway and digging a new water route mean altering a feature of the river that may cause the water current to hit riverbanks, damaging houses and property. Also, this scheme to improve river conditions in order to make water flow more efficiently mostly addresses flood problems in particular areas only. Moreover, there might be negative impacts or more destruction in the lower part of the river. All relevant factors, therefore, should be carefully and comprehensively considered.

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Construction of Water Irrigator Generally, water that spills over the banks of rivers and causes flood will be diverted and most of the water that remains at the level of the banks will be retained as usual.

Under this diversion method, a structure to control and regulate water flow to the new canal at an optimal level is constructed at the junction of the new waterway. The structure can be in the form of a weir that is able to automatically control water flow to a new canal or a regulator that can control water by using a water gate to open or close as appropriate.

In cases where it is better to drain water to the newly dug watercourse, a new watercourse is excavated to split from the original river around its curve, with the bottom floor at the same level as the main river. Mud from the excavated new canal will be used to fill up the old river, graded down and compressed thoroughly afterwards in order to make land available for other uses.

Before designing a project for each of the described methods, engineering criteria should be carefully studied and analyzed to ensure that the project is compatible with local geography, project goals, costs and benefits, before a decision is made on its implementation and any associated construction.

To solve the flood problem through the construction of a water diverting structure, His Majesty suggested in 1974 that the Royal Irrigation Department should solve the problem of water from Ko-Lok River which demarcates Thailand and Malaysia. In the rainy season, the river often overflows and inundates farmlands in Su-ngai Ko Lok District, Narathiwat Province, affecting thousands of rai of land each year. His Majesty suggested dredging of canals and diverting water from the Ko Lok River during the flood season, letting the water flow to the sea. The Royal Irrigation Department dug Mu Noh Canal in accordance with His Majesty’s initiative in 1975. The bed is over 20 meters wide and 15.60 kilometers long. The canal separates from Ko Lok River at Mu Noh District, Su-ngai Ko Lok District. Water from Ko Lok River, whose level is high and could potentially flood farmlands, flows to Mu Noh Canal. Water is drained to the sea at the other end. This canal not only helps to lower water level in Ko Lok River, but also stores water from Ko Lok River for further use in agriculture.

Construction of Embankment

Construction of Water Storage Dams

Popularly used since olden times, small dikes are built at a low height. They are parallel with the river but are situated at an appropriate distance from the riverbanks in order to prevent the uninterrupted flow of water spilling over the riverbanks, potentially flooding the inner areas. As the height of riverbanks increases, the cross sectional area should be spacious enough to drain a greater volume of water through the embankment, thus preventing flooding and associated problems in adjacent areas.

Most dikes are made of densely compacted soil. Their heights are higher than the highest flood level ever recorded in the past. Dikes look like a clay dam of a reservoir but act to obstruct water. To plan dike size and structure and make it durable and long-lasting, two sides of the dike should be rightly sized and sloped to firmly stand and balance, preventing it from shifting and collapsing while water is stored and when the water level declines rapidly.

The Royal Irrigation Department erected a large number of dikes based on His Majesty’s advice. Some examples are the Mu Noh Royal-initiated Dike Construction Project and the Pi Leng Royal-initiated Dike Project, both in Narathiwat Province.

For Bangkok and its peripheral areas, the Royal Irrigation Department, in cooperation with Department of Highways and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, built dikes to prevent flooding around many areas under the Royal-initiated Flood Prevention Project in Bangkok and peripheral areas. His Majesty recommended dikes as a tool for diverting water that is supposed to flow into communal areas in Bangkok to the sea in the South. Dikes should be constructed to ease intense flooding in the inner zones of Bangkok. In addition, obstructions to the flow of water, such as overcrowded weeds, should be cleared and bottlenecks should be widened to expedite comfortable water flow. Also, main canals should be dredged to ensure that the cross-sectional area allows water to pass through. At present, the project controls water from Chao Phraya River and canals circumventing Bangkok in the north and the east, preventing its overflow into Bangkok’s inner areas and economic zones.

Dams are constructed to store water and to close the stream of natural rivers between ravines or high grounds where the watersheds of main rivers are located. They also check water oversupply during the flood season in the North, in order to make reservoirs of different sizes. The reservoirs will drain water little by little for various uses, especially for plant cultivation in areas where there is no rain or during periods of drought. Dams are constructed in many different sizes. Some of them are big enough to support many uses, such as electricity generation, irrigation, water transportation, fish and prawn cultivation and alleviation of the severity of floods. Dams of this particular type are called ”multi-purpose dams”.

Dams are constructed in various regions mainly to supply water and for other purposes. His Majesty issued an order to concerned agencies to solve flood problems in agricultural areas and communities by constructing dams in different localities. A large dam constructed in response to His Majesty’s initiative to ease flood problems is the Mae-ngat Somboonchol Royal Dam. The dam was so named by His Majesty. The Royal-initiated Mae-ngat Dam, built across Mae-ngat River in Mae-ngat District, Chiang Mai Province, has a capacity of some 265 cubic meters. Its important use is for supplying water. His Majesty opened the Dam on 22 February 1986. To mitigate flood problems, this reservoir prevents, if not reduces, seasonal flooding in agricultural areas along two banks of the Mae-ngat and Ping Rivers. Besides, the water can also be reserved for agriculture all year round in agricultural areas measuring up to 188,000 rai.

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Laem Phak Bia Royal-initiated Environmental Study, Research and Development Project

“A nother important problem is environmental of

quality deterioration. The problems of wastewater and solid waste are also major concerns. With the application of technology, these studies have been easy to carry out. Studies of this nature have been conducted in Thailand.”

The preceding excerpt reflects His Majesty’s thinking concerning water and water resources conservation by means of wastewater treatment using natural mechanisms, namely oxidation pond, sedimentation pond and lagoon treatment, based on His Majesty’s development theories.

As seen from the above quoted speech of His Majesty, the Laem Phak Bia Royal-initiated Environmental Study, Research and Development Project was started at Laem Phak Bia Sub-district in Ban Laem District, Phetchaburi Province. The project is aimed at research on wastewater treatment, solid waste management and conservation of mangrove forests using natural techniques, based on His Majesty’s initiative which sums up the growing seriousness of the devastating effects of pollution problems on the environment and living conditions of communities. The people’s livelihood nowadays is increasingly put at risk by continuing environmental deterioration. A crucial factor is the absence of practical and effective wastewater treatment and waste management in many urban areas.

Putting procedures into practice, His Majesty provided the following implementation guidelines.

“The project I am planning to do is not too difficult.

Pollution caused by toxic substances and heavy metals can be treated through the application of certain methods. One

is by scrubbing either by air or no air, then discharging the water into a treatment pond or field. The field can be developed as a grazing land for animals while parts of it can be reserved for cultivation and planting.”

“The so-called water filtration method is carried out to clean the water. Filtered water is released into agricultural land or pasture. Afterwards the remaining water is drained to the sea so as not to waste it.”

“In the southern part of Australia, there is a project that pumps sewage into canals and pipes near the sea. There is a huge lagoon that covers many hundreds of rai. Water is treated until it is no longer dirty and it is then drained into the sea.”

As His Majesty has carried out primary research over a long period of time, He issued an order to the Office of the Royal Development Projects Board and the Royal Irrigation Department to coordinate in studying solutions to solve environmental problems that are approaching crisis levels. In response, officers from these organizations conducted a study tour concerning wastewater treatment and solid waste management in Australia, in order to bring back relevant patterns and methods to be modified and put into practice in Thailand.

With respect to His Majesty’s initiative, the working group surveyed sites for the project’s implementation and found a suitable area in Laem Phak Bia Sub-district, Ban Laem District, Phetchaburi province, which was appropriate for the construction of a wastewater treatment system.

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Royal-initiated Natural Wastewater Treatment by Oxidation Pond or Sedimentation Pond and the Wastewater Treatment Pond System at Laem Phak Bia The Royal-initiated Laem Phak Bia Royal Environmental Study, Research and Development Project situated at Laem Phak Bia Sub-district, Ban Laem District, Phetchaburi Province, is designed for research on wastewater treatment, solid waste management and mangrove conservation through natural means.

The Chaipattana Foundation, Office of the Royal Development Projects Board, Royal Irrigation Department, Royal Forest Department, Department of Fisheries, Kasetsart University, Mahidol University, Phetchaburi Rajabhat Institute, and Mueang Phetchaburi Municipality reached a consensus concerning the location of a construction site for the wastewater treatment system. The location is about 18 kilometers from Mueang Phetchaburi Municipality, with a total area of 1,135 rai, and is land for public use. There is no provision for expropriation of the land. The working group for this project has taken action as follows: At the outset, Mueang Municipality in Phetchaburi province paved sewers in municipal areas and their neighborhoods for the purpose of sharing a sewerage system to drain wastewater to a pumping station at Yang Canal, where a pump, with a capacity to treat 400 cubic meters per hour, was set up by the Royal Irrigation Department. Although the daily quantity of wastewater to be treated at that time was about 4,500 cubic meters, the Laem Phak Bia wastewater treatment system was designed to cope with the growing problems of continued urbanization and had a maximum daily capacity of 10,000 cubic meters of sewage. In the canals, solid wastes, such as plastic bags, pieces of clothing, banana leaves, sticks and other large suspended sediments, are trapped in order to reduce their dirtiness and the pump’s workload. This preliminary system is considered as a primary sedimentation pond that can effectively reduce up to 40 percent of the dirt.

Wastewater treatment commences after polluted water from Yang Canal is pumped through 18 kilometers of a sewerage system into the Laem Phak Bia wastewater treatment area, where two treatment systems, a main system and a supplementary system, operate simultaneously.

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Main Treatment System This system includes 5 ponds in a 95-rai area. Influents flow into the water-spillover system in the sedimentation pond and then through treatment ponds numbers 1, 2 and 3, in that order. The water overflows to a final clarification pond before it is discharged into mangroves. Researchers closely inspect the quality of treated wastewater at this final stage.

Supplementary Treatment System The system’s operations are carried out in a 20-rai area that features the following: • Biological Pond System: Wastewater is directed to pass through 4 shallow rectangular ponds, measuring 25 meters x 300 meters. Plants with bushy roots, such as a variety of reeds and giant reeds, are grown. These types of plants will spread their roots through the soil and grow well in flooded water at heights of 15-30 meters. The treatment starts when wastewater is drained continuously through the weeds from the first pond to the last pond. The plants absorb toxic and organic matters and completely digest organic substances. Hence, effluents from these ponds are suitable for reuse.

• Grass Filter System: Wastewater is irrigated to 4 grass fields whose size and components are similar to those of biological ponds. The variety of planted grass includes Napia grass, Vetiver grass, Manila grass, buffalo grass and Ruzi grass.

These grass ponds receive water from the biological ponds.

The water is retained for 1-2 weeks until its level of cleanliness is improved.

• Mangrove Filter System: Wastewater is treated using a natural combination of mangroves and White Mangrove (Avicennia alba) grown in a 30-rai area. Water passing through the mangrove forest will satisfy effluent standard requirements.

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Royal Initiative on Solving Problems of Salty Water due to Salt Farming

Solution to Salty Water Stemming from Salt Farming In Narathiwat and Ban Mueng Districts, Sakon Nakhon Province, salt farmers pump groundwater containing salt from rocksalt underground that is used in salt farms. A problem occurs when farmers discharge brine from salt farming into public canals and rivers that irrigate rice fields and farmlands or when the rain rinses salt farms. As a result, the total yield of rice fields is reduced.

To enable salt farmers to farm salt without any disastrous effects on nearby rice paddies, His Majesty said that all salt farmers should allot a piece of land next to their salt farms for the purpose of excavating it and using it as a storage pond for salty water drained from salt farms. The stored brine

is allowed to naturally evaporate or flow underground through a small well that is as deep as the level at which salty water has been pumped earlier. Reservoir size, including width and depth, is calculated in relation to a good balance between the quantity of unwanted brine from the salt yard and the capacity of the brine in the pond to flow underground and not to spill to public water sources.

As a result, standard rocksalt farming, in response to His Majesty’s initiative, includes a pond to store wastewater from salt yards, effectively prevents brine drained from the yard to flow into ditches or canals and adjacent areas.

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The New Theory H is Majesty has been steadfast in pursuing His goal

of ensuring water supply for agriculture and has always recognized that the presence of ponds in farmlands is a significant factor for sustained farming. In order to maximize the use of water, His Majesty has pioneered a system of water storage for agricultural use and water management in cultivable lands. His Majesty’s ideas are contained in “The New Theory”.

His Majesty made an observation concerning the first experiment on the New Theory in 1989. Following the purchase of a piece of land next to Mongkol Chaipattana Temple in Huai Bong Sub-district, Mueang District, Saraburi Province, a model for the application of the New Theory was set up. In the model, appropriate technology was applied to manage limited agricultural land for maximum results and to support farmers and make them self-sufficient. Maximization of land use was divided into the following three sections: • Section 1: 30 percent of the land (approximately 3 rai) were dug 4 meters deep to serve as water storage with a capacity for at least 10,000 cubic meters, collecting water during the rainy season for year-round use in agriculture, domestic consumption and integrated agriculture.

• Section 2: 60 percent of the land (approximately 10 rai) were reserved for plant cultivation and other agricultural activities. Of the total, half was used as rice field, while the other half was reserved for planting fruit trees, perennial plants and farm crops, based on availability and suitability of environmental resources and local market demand.

• Section 3: 10 percent of the land (approximately 2 rai) were reserved for farmers’ houses, animal dens, composting area, storage for rice straw and rice harvests, vegetable garden, shady trees, decorative flowers, earthen ridge roads and ditches.

The core rationale behind the theory is the need to support farmers so they will gain enough for themselves and become self-sufficient. Surplus produce is sold for extra income.

A vital factor in agricultural production is the availability of

water resources that are capable of supporting agriculture. In response, His Majesty has promoted a scheme whereby land management and land use maximization are pursued in tandem in order to solve the problem of insufficient water supply for agriculture.

To support the high investment costs of excavation, assistance from the government and concerned foundations or private organizations is needed. The dug pond or reservoir can be filled up only once a year in the rainy season, yet on the average, stored water evaporates one centimeter daily during days without rain. Because of this, the reservoir needs to be refilled adequately. To fulfill the New Theory and to make sure that the pond in a farmland can function effectively at full capacity, a large water source is needed to ensure that there is enough water in the pond for agricultural use all year round. The fact is, no matter how much rainwater falls, the pond itself can be filled by rain only once a year, with some of the water lost due to evaporation. His Majesty emphasizes the importance of water in the New Theory and urges the construction of a large water reservoir to supply water to the pond in a farmland. The large reservoir may be refilled by an even larger reservoir.

As the experiment on the New Theory yielded beneficial results in Saraburi Province, His Majesty issued an initiative to develop other lands in various proper areas. These included the New Theory Demonstration Project at the Royal Development Study Center in Moo 14, Ban Chatrmongkol, Tongchai Nue Subdistrict, Pak Tong Chai District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, a small-scale occupational demonstration project for Thai villagers; the Seasonal Agricultural Royal-initiated Development Project at Ban Dan Samakkee, Moo 13, Koom Kao Sub-district, Kao Wong District, Kalasin Province; and the Royal Agricultural Technology Service Center in Lam Look Ka, Pathum Thani Province. The projects are being implemented up to the present and, as a matter of fact, the villagers have been assured sufficient water for integrated agriculture and have been able to increase their family incomes.

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Royal Initiative on Soil and Water Conservation Using Vetiver

T he cultivation of Vetiver to conserve soil and water

was the topic of discussions that His Majesty held with Mr. Sumet Tantivejkul, Secretary-General of the Office of the Royal Development Projects Board at Chitralada Royal Palace on 22 June 1991, followed by another meeting at Klai Kangwon Palace, Hua Hin District, Prachuap Khirikhan Province, on 29 June 1991. The discussions are summarized as follows: A study and an experiment concerning the cultivation of Vetiver to prevent landslides should be conducted on land within the Royal Development Study Centers and other areas, particularly the Huai Sai Royal Development Study Center and Khao Hin Sorn Royal Development Study Center.

Any experiment on the cultivation of Vetiver should be preceded by a study of the land’s topography, using two categories as follows:

Growth of Vetiver in highlands Vetiver is grown horizontally, crossing hills and slopes and along mountain creeks so as to prevent erosion of topsoil and to maintain moisture underground.

Growth of Vetiver in lowlands Vetiver is planted around agricultural plots, with one or two lines a plot. It is planted between plant beds.

The results of the study should provide data on the growth of stems and roots, the plant’s ability to remain fertile and to retain soil moisture, and other types of grasses.

On 5 July 1991, His Majesty discussed His ideas on the conservation of soil by natural methods with Mr. Pramote Maiklad, Director of Special Affairs Division, Royal Irrigation Department, and Police Colonel Theeradej Rodphothong, Director of Huai Sai Royal Development Study Center, at Klai Kangwon Palace, Hua Hin District, Prachuap Khirikhan Province. The discussion is summarized below.

1. Natural conservation of topsoil has long been practiced. In the study areas, a common problem is the peeling of topsoil for agricultural use, as for instance, in the making of ridges. The practice is naturally wrong and poses problems in the future. Therefore, His Majesty advised the Huai Sai Royal Development Study Center to conduct harmless agricultural activities in the Center as a demonstration project and to share the results with the villagers for them to adopt.

2. Based on a World Bank study on soil conservation using Vetiver, His Majesty recommended the Huai Sai Royal Development Study Center to experiment on the cultivation of Vetiver to protect topsoil. Vetiver was grown and propagated in different areas, such as along the rims of ditches in cashew nut tree plots, on slopes or natural creeks, in front of tiny

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stone dikes or on farmlands, such as cornfields. Conditions before and after the project’s implementation was filmed as evidence. All projects at the Huai Sai Royal Development Study Center provide evidence on the growth of Vetiver.

Their Majesties the King and Queen visited Pranburi District in Prachuap Khirikhan Province on 7 July 1991 to follow up on the Suan Had Sai Yai Royal-initiated Development Project, and recommended that “Vetiver should be grown well because of its usefulness in holding the soil and preventing its erosion, and maintaining topsoil, particularly in this project area where there are many slopes. Moreover, Vetiver helps in collecting organic substances in the soil. Also, its young leaves are used as animal food.”

Further remarking on the Vetiver, His Majesty in a royal address at Phu Phing Palace in Mueang District, Chiang Mai Province, on 19 February 1992, related the following account.”

“The Border Patrol Police must grow Vetiver around its operational stations and in neighboring villages, extending such cultivation to all parts of the country later. As Vetiver is suitable for soil conservation, it is grown as a fence on different contour layers. The experiment on Vetiver cultivation has brought excellent results in many Asian countries. In addition, it has positively influenced the prolific growth of other plants near Vetiver fences.”

Their Majesties the King and Queen and Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn visited the Huai Sai Sub-district Office, Mueng District, Chiang Mai Province, on 20 February 1992, to monitor a royal Project. They made the following observations on the growth of Vetiver.

1. Vetiver is a plant whose roots grow straight and deep in the soil like a wall to filter soil sediments and to cover the topsoil well. It should be studied and tried to grow.

2. It should be planted in single lines and kept 1015 centimeters apart so as not to waste space. The grass needs little care. Most experiments should be carried out in ditches and on slopes to reduce the erosion of topsoil and landslides.

3. Growing Vetiver is a new agricultural practice. It should be grown without any high expectations, although it produces distinctive results. Vetiver should be cultivated in land development stations in order to select good species that do not propagate by flowering, are tolerant of droughts and are able to stay green in the dry season. Vetiver should be grown

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before the rainy season so that farmers in adjacent areas can enjoy the benefits of its cultivation.

His Majesty the King and Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn visited Chiang Mai Province on 24 February 1992 to follow up the work of the Huai Hong Khrai Royal Development Study Center in Doi Saket District. They observed the cultivation and genetic selection and offered the following recommendations.

1. The cultivation of Vetiver should be promoted to help conserve soil and water. The roots of the Vetiver grass retain water, keeping the soil moist. A number of plants, such as corn and other perennials, can be cultivated in areas where Vetiver is grown. One key characteristic of Vetiver grass is as a trap of nitrogen, preventing toxic and other hazardous substances from seeping into waterways, flowing underground instead.

2. The different species of Vetiver grass should be studied and selected to suit specific topographical conditions where they can best grow, especially along foothills where landslides mostly occur. Some areas where the grass should be planted are the Kao Cha-ngoom Project and Yansangvararam Voramahaviharn Temple. The Vetiver grass should be grown approximately three months before the rainy season so that it will become strong and capable of withstanding the violent force of floodwater. Furthermore, the Vetiver grass should be experimentally planted along waterways, in the same manner as along the check dam. Vetiver grass is also grown along steep and bare roadsides to protect them from collapsing.

Their Majesties the King and Queen and Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn visited Mae Hong Son Province on 14 March 1992 to monitor activities at the Mae La Noi Royal Development Project Center. Their Majesties shared the following advice concerning the cultivation of Vetiver grass.

“Let the Hmong hilltribe grow Vetiver between plots of cabbage, which the hilltribe community commonly grows as a dry season plant, supported by artificial rain system.”

In a royal address to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives concerning the cultivation of Vetiver grass, at Chitralada Royal Palace on 14 May 1992, His Majesty recommended the following measures: 1. To promote Vetiver cultivation nationwide in the next two years, although this would require some budgetary support.

2. To select species of Vetiver grass that cannot be propagated using seeds.

3. To grow Vetiver grass in clusters, allowing the root to spread approximately 15 centimeters and eliminating the need to cut the potting bag as the root can penetrate through the bag.

4. Vetiver should be cultivated on agricultural land and along the edge of ponds or water sources in the forests, as well as along waterways where the grass can absorb soil sediments, preventing them from flowing into reservoirs while its thick, penetrating roots restore moisture in the soil.

5. At the Huai Sai Royal Development Study Center Project, Vetiver grass is planted to extend the surface area of the topsoil. At the Kao Cha-ngoom Land Rehabilitation Project, Vetiver is grown on land next to Kao Kiew, lining up the grass close to each other in the same direction and adding topsoil at an early stage. Once the grass becomes abundant, it will help increase the surface area of the topsoil.

His Majesty visited the Huai Sai Royal Development Study Center on 22 July 1992 and spoke about Vetiver cultivation and water resources, noting the following points.

1. Vetiver cultivation should be widely promoted because the grass has many useful benefits in soil conservation, in particular, hard-structured soil at Huai Sai. Vetiver grass acts as a natural dam that keeps the soil moist and richer.

2. To grow Vetiver on slopes, for saving purpose, the lines should be 1-2 meters wider on the vertical direction.

Nonetheless, the grass clusters in each line should be rooted closely in order to ensure growth. As for growing fruit trees, the trees should be surrounded by half-circles of Vetiver grass, a shape similar to the Huang Sui (Chinese graveyard).

3. Vetiver grass should be lined up above water sources where it can prevent sedimentation and absorb chemical substances and pollutants that flow down to the water sources.

Vetiver can hold hazardous substances in its roots and stems for a long enough period to make these chemicals dissolve as fertilizer for the plant’s use later.

His Majesty issued an instruction concerning the cultivation of Vetiver to Mr. Sumet Tantivejkul at the Chitralada Royal Palace on 28 August 1993, which stated the following. “As for Vetiver grass grown in big groves, the distance between each grass is about 15 centimeters. If grown closely, that is, 2-3 centimeters apart, and the grass is planted in small groves, I belive the planted row will be very dense. The loss of grass may be less. A few months after planting, the groves will merge. However, groves that are set apart by a wider space will take some 2 years to show some results. That is too late.

In Doi Tung, the grass is thickly grown, resulting in a lot of wastage. Nevertheless, the experiment has brought about immediate results.�

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Royal Initiative on Tricking the Soil

Soil Conservation by Tricking the Soil During His temporary residence at Thaksin Palace in Narathiwat Province while visiting His loyal subjects in the South, His Majesty gains fresh insights into the difficulties of His people, particularly problems associated with poor living conditions in many provinces.

In 1974, villagers from many localities in Narathiwat Province submitted petitions to His Majesty concerning their hardships particularly during the rainy season when floods inundate bog forests and they are unable to make a living.

Farmers who do not own land to cultivate face a greater problem.

His Majesty was well aware of the existing problem and He duly provided assistance, as conveyed in His royal speech, which stated the following. “... This land is inundated and useless. If we make it emerge out of the flood and drain off the water, it will bring enormous advantages to people on their living and earning. ...�

Inspired by His Majesty’s guidance, concerned sectors in the government brainstormed for measures to improve bog forests that are submerged under water all year round and to make them as useful as possible for agricultural purposes.

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In response to His Majesty’s concern, the potential effects on bog forest ecology were also taken into account.

During His visits to His loyal subjects in August-October 1981, His Majesty explained that once the flood is drained from the bog forests, to create space for agriculture and to reduce the severity of the annual inundation, the soil in the bog forests is found to have become acidic, making cultivation of the people futile.

The soil in the bog forests turns acidic because it contains organic substances and rotten carcasses and remains in muddy topsoil from 2 to 9 meters deep, and brine, where a sulfur compound, known as Pyrite compound, reacts with the air to produce sulfuric acid that makes the soil acidic.

Under these circumstances, soil in bog forests is hardly able to develop because once the water is drained, the air sieves down and reacts with the soil, producing acid that makes the soil acidic.

His Majesty’s concept is based on the idea that if the bog forests remain submerged, there would be no problem of soil acidity. Determined to dry up flooded land and make it useful and cultivable, His Majesty has worked relentlessly to address this problem.

His Majesty’s initiative on Tricking the Soil was announced on 16 September 1984 in a Royal speech delivered at the Pikun Thong Royal Development Study Center. His Majesty stated the following. “…There must be the experiment to make soil extremely acidic which involve draining off water to make the land dry.

The study to solve soil acidity should be carried out. Measures should be devised so that the results could be put into practice to assist villagers in Narathiwat Province. The project’s duration is 2 years. Plant tested should be rice...”

This Royal-initiated project, called by His Majesty as “Tricking the Soil”, is being implemented by the Pikun Thong Royal Development Study Center following His Majesty’s recommendation to study changes of sulfur soil acidity using the following means. Firstly, Tricking the Soil to become acidic, by alternately drying and wetting the soil, the chemical reaction of the soil is expedited, stimulating a sulfate compound, the so-called Pyrite compound. This compound will react with oxygen in the air and release sulfuric acid. The soil becomes extremely acidic such that all cash crops are not able to grow.

Afterwards measures to improve the soil are introduced so that

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cash crops can be grown. As solution to the problem of acidic soil, His Majesty recommends the following.

Methods to Control Groundwater Level To avoid the creation of sulfuric acid, the groundwater level should be higher than the level of muddy soil, thus preventing the Pyrite compound contained in the muddy soil from reacting with oxygen or from being oxidized through the following methods.

First of all, a drainage system is set up in the entire area. Then the water on the upper layer is drained off to rinse the acid. All year round the water level in the drainage ditch is maintained at least one meter below the land surface.

This phase can only be effectively completed if the drainage system and the irrigation system are properly constructed.

The drainage system helps to prevent flooding, while the irrigation system helps to rinse acid and to maintain the required groundwater level.

An example of effective control of groundwater level is seen in the case of the Bang Nara River Basin Royal-initiated Development Project. Two regulators have been built crossing Bang Nara River to relieve inundation along both sides of the river, to allow fresh water into the river for agricultural use and general consumption, to prevent the intrusion of brine from the estuary into the inner part of the river, and to control groundwater level along the banks of the river in the lowlands, making sure that this does not drop thereby causing soil acidity, a common problem in low-lying plains in Narathiwat province.

Methods to Improve Soil Three soil improvement measures, based on His Majesty’s principle of Tricking the Soil, can be discreetly used.

Soil conditions and the suitability of specific areas, as explained in the following section, should be taken into account.

Rinsing the Acid Using Water Water is used to rinse the soil and acid in order to increase the pH value. In practice, water is released to flood the field and is drained off around 2 to 3 times, Each time there should be an interval period of 1-2 weeks. Soil becomes extremely acidic when the soil is dry or during periods of drought. Ideally, the rinsing process should begin during the rainy season in order to reduce the use of irrigated water. In

fact, water should be used continuously to rinse acid and to ensure long-term results, it should be done more than two to three times. This method is considered the simplest. However, there should be adequate amount of water for rinsing the soil and the groundwater level should be controlled so that it is higher than the muddy soil that contains a large amount of Pyrite. The procedures described here help to rinse acid soil, making it milder and its pH value high enough to dilute both harmful metal and aluminum solutions so that the Pyrite compound cannot react with the oxygen and release acid.

Because acidic land is in the lowlands, draining water is difficult. A solution is to landscape the target area. Two popularly used methods of landscaping are described below.

• Leveling the surface: A slope is made on the land surface to facilitate the easy flow of water to irrigation canals. The field and its ridges should be restructured and modified to enable storage or drainage of water.

• Ridging: Ridging is used for the cultivation of farm crops, vegetables, fruit trees or perennials that provide lucrative economic returns. This can be achieved when water supply sources are able to provide water into the ridges and the water can be drained off when it becomes strongly acidic. As a result, farm crops are able to grow.

With the application of nitrogen and phosphate fertilizer, fruit-bearing plants become productive.

Mixture of Lime and Topsoil Use locally available lime that is in abundant supply.

Marl is used in the Central region and lime dust is used in the South. It is applied all over the field, using 1 to 4 tons per rai. The field is then ploughed to cover the applied lime.

The quantity of lime used varies depending on the severity of soil acidity.

Lime along with Water Rinse and Control of Groundwater Level This is the most comprehensive measure and is highly effective in treating high acidity of land that has been deserted for a long period. In practice, lime is used to stimulate water to work efficiently. The common proportion of lime used per rai is 1-2 tons. The land is tilled afterwards. Water is used

to rinse the acid while groundwater level is controlled so that it is above the level of the muddy soil that contains compounds.

In making the beds, the Pyrite compound content of the muddy soil should be determined first. In general, the beds should be dug not deeper than 100 centimeters. Steps in excavating beds are detailed below.

• Ridges are designed to suit particular types of plants to be grown. In general, the width of ridges is about 6-8 meters and that of beds is roughly 1-1.5 meters.

• A tractor is used to scoop the topsoil and to pile it in the middle of the ridges. The topsoil is extremely acidic and is usually composed of highly organic substances and is rather loose. Therefore, it is of great use when placed in the middle of the ridges instead of being completely covered by soil dug from the ditch.

• Land that is reserved for making the beds is excavated and added to the ridges. This increases the height of the ridges by at least 50 centimeters, making them favorable to the cultivation of fruit trees and other perennials.

• To protect gardens from flooding, they should have embankments. The embankments should be tightly compressed to prevent water leaks and high enough to prevent inundation during the rainy season.

• Pumps are installed to control water, as needed.

Water that is left stagnant in garden beds for 3-4 months becomes extremely acidic. Ideally, water is replaced once every 3-4 months by pumping irrigated water into the garden beds and watering the trees as usual.

To make ridges for perennials or fruit trees, it is necessary to evaluate the risk of flooding. If there is a high potential for inundation, the cultivation timetable should be modified since fruit trees live productively for long periods of at least 5-10 years. In case of floods, the garden and plants would be damaged and the investment would be lost.

Nevertheless in flood-prone areas, the ridges can be lower and instead of fruit trees or perennials, annual crops or vegetables can be substituted and grown alternately with rice. During the rainy season, garden beds are inevitably flooded and rice is grown on ridges in order to save costs in draining floodwater. When the season ends, cultivation of annual plants or vegetables should begin to meet market demand and earn additional incomes.

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Royal-initiated Check Dam for Conservation of Headwater

It is widely known that His Majesty has a deep

concern for the survival of forests. Considering that the main cause of the problem is associated with water, a vital variable in the survival of forests, His Majesty has initiated the so-called Royal-initiated Check Dam, which can be used very efficiently in forest conservation and rehabilitation.

The Royal-initiated check dam is constructed across the water channel to obstruct the water flow. Usually it is constructed in small streams in the area of headwater or area with high slope. When water surges forward, the dam helps to slow down its flow and withholds sediments so they do not accumulate at the lower basin downstream. The dam is regarded as another distinct measure that can conserve soil and water.

The Royal-initiated check dam also reduces landslides and the force of water current, water flow is prolonged, moisture is increased and is spread throughout both sides of the river, and sediments that come with the flow of water are collected. The collection will help to prolong the lifespan of lower water sources downstream. They become shallow at a slower pace and there is better water quality with less contamination by sediments. Biodiversity in the area and the density of greens are enhanced due to an increase of moisture.

Moreover, since the dam can store some amount of water, it provides a habitat for aquatic animals, a source of water for consumption as well as for agriculture.

Indeed the operation and structure of the Royal-initiated check dam have been truly beneficial as stated by His Majesty in a Royal address.

“A check dam that is economically constructed using cheap locally available materials should be considered. For instance, stones are dumped into the stream and covered with a net so that dams that are located in consecutive distance can store some water and some sediments. The collected water will seep into the soil allowing wetness to spread on both sides. Later on, species of fast-growing trees and evergreen trees can be grown to restore head watershed areas and gradually make them more lush.�

His Majesty provided advice on the construction of three types of Royal-initiated check dams, as follows:

Basic Local Check Dam The dam is made of natural materials, such as stalks and dead logs sandwiched between various sizes of rocks found nearby. The dam is easily built in the upper area of a stream or a watercourse in order to collect residues and slow down water speed and increase moisture in the vicinity of the dam.

The method costs little, if anything, apart from labor.

Semi-permanent Stone Check Dam Stones are arranged to make rather permanent walls around the middle and the lower part of a stream or a watercourse to intercept deposits and to store water up to a certain extent during the dry season.

Reinforced Concrete Check Dam The check dam is permanently erected, mostly at the end of a stream or a river. This type of dam can collect sediments and store water effectively during periods of drought.

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Demonstration Forests

Demonstration Forests: an Early Private Royal Initiative His Majesty temporarily resides at Klai Kangwon Palace every year. In the olden times, His Majesty traveled on the Royal train to the Palace. Later, with the improvement of transportation routes, His Majesty rode in a car from the Royal fleet instead. Around 1960-1961, while on a Royal trip through the provinces of Nakhon Pathom, Ratchaburi and Phetchaburi, His Majesty observed the abundance of Yang trees (Dipterocarpus alatus Roxb.) along roadsides at Ta Yang District in Phetchaburi Province. His Majesty was inspired to transform the rubber tree forest into a public park. However, His wish was not fulfilled at that time because of the high cost of land expropriation due to the large number of villagers doing farming in the area.

As a result, His Majesty planted seeds of the Yang tree in pots at the Piamsuk Villa in Klai Kangwon Palace. On 28

July 1961 His Majesty together with His royal attendants brought 1,250 Yang seedlings to grow in demonstration plots.

Furthermore, His Majesty granted permission for the planting of a variety of plant species in a demonstration forest at the Chitralada Royal Palace . His Majesty Himself built a palace in the forest and called it Ruenton Royal Palace.

His Majesty was determined to inculcate a love for forests among the people, as conveyed by His remarks to forestry officials, wherein He stated that “... Forestry officials should first plant trees in the hearts of the people so that they would then plant trees on the ground and, on their own, learn how to protect trees. ...�

This remark embodies an important theory based on a principle concerning forestry development.

In 1976 at the Toong Chor Headwater Development Center, His Majesty issued an initiative for the planting of three varieties of trees, namely fruit trees, fast-growing trees and cash crops, to support integrated reforestation and to sustain a natural equilibrium that would cope with the needs and demands of the government and the public in general.

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Reforestation Without Planting Forestry, covering the areas of conservation,

reforestation, maintenance and utilization, concerns His Majesty profoundly. His Majesty recognizes that the forest is a rich resource for all living creatures, both plants and animals, and provides for essential needs that are vital to human existence, such as food, shelter, clothing, medicine, organic matter and water. The forest is also a sink of and preventing pollutants.

It alleviates the effects of disastrous natural phenomena, including flashfloods, storms, rockslides and landslides. His Majesty has synthesized all relevant knowledge and has presented innumerable simple and easy-to-do demonstrations for His loyal subjects.

With regards the conservation of forests and forest areas, His Majesty visits different regions throughout Thailand and keeps Himself informed about problems of increasing hilltribe population, slash and burn method of farming to cultivate upland rice, and seasonal vegetation for daily sustenance. If these problems are not duly addressed, water resources in the forests would be eventually depleted.

His Majesty has implemented a strategy to encourage hilltribe communities to stop slash and burn farming and to help improve their way of life. He visits hilltribe villages to listen to the people’s needs and hardships and to introduce them to a better way of life. His Majesty’s innovative livelihood program is based on the establishment of secure agricultural areas. His Majesty has initiated a program to distribute plant species and has visited different hilltribe localities, encouraging the people to live as a community, raise livestock and fish, grow perennials in areas designated by the government with the approval of concerned local communities, stop migration and slash and burn farming, and develop a sense of ownership of forests and water resources. The people’s produce is sold at reasonable prices to markets, with the support of demonstration projects and assistance from the government and private sectors. The goal is to improve the living standard of hilltribe communities.

On the matter of reforestation and maintenance, His Majesty points out that growing the same type of plants in a vast area is contrary to the law of nature and could bring

about negative effects, such as pest attacks and plant diseases.

Aware of the potential presence of different kinds of small seeds that are spread out or are clustered in groups, His Majesty recommends that prior to cultivation, the land should be prepared. It is important to isolate those areas that should be mowed and those that should not be planted due to the presence of trees. The practice of planting in lines or rows is naturally wrong and is not suited to the prevention of landslides. Instead, His Majesty suggests that different species should be grown in clusters, with some planted closely while others are scattered. This is a crucial principle in forest conservation and rehabilitation that has been adopted by government agencies, private organizations and the general public. His Majesty understands that in order to reforest or to carry out any type of work for that matter, the first step is to formulate and analyze rationale, methodology and procedure and to synthesize these and translate them into simple forms of action that would suit actual implementation.

Reforestation Without PlantingA Theory Based on the Natural Cycle of Rehabilitation Concerned about the decreasing number of forests, His Majesty has undertaken considerable efforts to reverse the trend steadily and permanently, using simple and economical means.

His Majesty has also worked towards reinforcing the natural life cycle of forests, following many ideas regarding natural reforestation without planting, based on the following principles: “... Once a proper location has been selected, leave the forest there untouched. It will grow as a healthy forest without the need to plant a single tree. ...” “... Do not disturb the forest or harm the trees, but only protect them so they can grow. ...”

“In the case of Dipterocarp forests and deteriorating forests, there is no need to do anything else as the stumps will branch out again. Although the trees may not have a good shape, they will grow large and healthy. ...”

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That is the guidelines of reforestation without planting.

• As for reforestation on the highland, His Majesty has suggested the following: “... Sow different seed varieties in the highlands. As the plants grow, they will pod and seed again. The seeds will fall to the lowlands and grow there. This is natural breeding. ...”

• Concerning reforestation along head watershed area or natural reforestation, His Majesty provides the following hints: “... There is an initial need to survey and study indigenous plant species. Plant those that have been indicated in the list of plant species. ...”

• Also ban growing the alien plants. “... Alien species should not be planted unless a thorough study has first been made. ...”

people would help to reforest some 48 million rai by planting at least 100 million seedlings annually within a 20-year period, the targeted goal of expanding forested areas by up to 40 percent of the whole country could be achieved.

In response, His Majesty has introduced a reforestation theory in order to rehabilitate forests, implementing measures to rehabilitate the land through an integrated approach. This is reflected in the following excerpt of His Majesty’s speech. “... Reforestation should be done based on a plan and on a goal to develop the hilltribes. In this regard, officials concerned with forestry, irrigation and agriculture should cooperate in exploring headwater in their areas of responsibility in order to draft a precise plan for headwater improvement and occupational development. ...”

Procedures for Reforestation

Reforestation measures initiated by His Majesty are described as follows: • Reforestation of encroached, slashed and burned and deteriorated forest areas

Nowadays, forested areas account for less than 25 percent, or 80 million rai of the whole country. If the Thai

“... Deteriorated areas or head watershed areas that have been invaded and slashed, resulting in barren mountain

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areas, should be reforested urgently. Fast-growing plants should be grown experimentally to cover watercourses in order to spread out moisture gradually. Moisture enriches the growth of trees and serves as a buffer against forest fires. The absence of moisture could easily lead to fires. In subsequent years, trees should be grown next to fast-growing plants. Moisture will disperse more widely and the trees will prosper throughout the years. ...”

•

Reforestation along mountain slopes

“... A variety of trees should be planted for various purposes, including harvesting fruits and collecting timber and fuelwood commonly used by farmers. Trees should be replaced immediately after cutting. ...”

•

Reforestation of watersheds on mountain peaks and highlands

“... Forest areas that grow perennials and fuelwood should be reforested periodically to support the villagers’ practice of felling trees to collect firewood for household use. It should be noted that perennials make the air moist, which is a part of the natural rain-forming process. They also hold the soil and prevent soil erosion in case of rain. ...”

His Majesty has offered ideas concerning reforesting mountain peaks because forests in the highlands are deteriorated, thus affecting the lowlands. Seeds to be sown right at the peak down to the lowland should be properly selected.

Reforestation should be done around reservoirs where the amount of moisture may be inadequate. Forests are grown to develop watersheds and to ensure that water sources are clean enough for domestic consumption. To increase their incomes, local villagers are encouraged to participate in growing and maintaining the trees and are also inculcated with a sense of respect for the importance of reforestation to enrich nature and expand animal habitats.

Many Royal-initiated reforestation projects have been successfully implemented, including the Chaipattana Reforestation Projects at Doi Tung in Chiang Rai Province and at Nong Plup, Hua Hin District in Prachuap Khirikhan Province, the Forest Garden Projects in several Royal Development Study Centers, the Sirichareon Forest Garden Project in Chon Buri Province, Huai Ongkot in Kanchanaburi Province, and various reforestation projects both inside and outside the Puparn Palace in Sakon Nakhon Province.

His Majesty has also introduced the concept of three forestations for four benefits. Using his remarkable talent, His Majesty has demonstrated the sustainable use of natural

resources for the people’s wide-ranging, long-term benefit.

According to His Majesty’s idea of three forestations, “... forests to be grown should comprise one forest for timber, one forest for fruit trees and one forest for fuelwood.

This is a general grouping. In connection with the need to grow trees for such benefit of the public, it would seem that the Royal Forest Department has identified this as gardens rather than forests. Nevertheless, in terms of their benefits on conservation of head watershed area, these forest or gardens either fruit gardens or firewood gardens, are considered as forests in their own right because they play the essential role of forests, that is, are trees and provide resources whose yields are beneficial to the people. ...”

Regarding the three types of forests, His Majesty provides the following explanation concerning the advantages of reforestation. “... The concept of three forestations for four benefits yields fruits, construction wood and firewood and helps in the conservation of head watershed area. ...”

His Majesty points out that “... if we nurture the forest for the villagers to live in, the concept of three forestations for four benefits, that is to provide wood for construction, to ensure food for consumption and to grow trees that have a commercial value, should be put into practice to provide water supply, absorb water and fill up river banks. The fourth benefit is the conservation of soil and water. ...”

His Majesty’s recommendation concerning forestry conservation and rehabilitation has been put into practice by various government bodies, including the Royal Forest Department and all Royal-initiated Development Study Centers, by growing fast-growing plants in the forest and using their branches as firewood. Timber wood and craft wood are also grown.

Fast-growing species in forest gardens are mainly Eucalyptus, Thai Copper tree, Burma Padauk, Sesban, White Popinac and Neem Tree.

His Majesty offers as follow an observation concerning forestation for firewood. “... For reforestation for firewood to supply the villagers’ regular needs, the forestation area and the number of villagers must be calculated as well as a comparison between the growth rate and the cutting rate of the trees should be taken into account. Trees should be rotated and reforested in order to provide firewood at all times. ...”

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Royal Initiative on Wet Forests Wet forest as fire-retardant His Majesty has introduced the idea of “wet forest” or forest development theory by constructing a forest fire buffer zone.

His Majesty has a deep appreciation for the infinite value of water. He believes that all things in the human world are mutually interdependent, if the people know how to apply and make use of them. Using the wet forest to prevent forest fires is based on a very simple principle that features innumerable qualities. In case of a forest fire, most people immediately think of mobilizing forces to extinguish the fire at once. However, a more important approach is to formulate a long-term plan to protect the forest.

The royal initiative on wet forest is another project that His Majesty requested the Royal Development Study Centers to study and experiment on until satisfactory results could be achieved.

The formation of a wet forest starts with a forest fire protection system that consists of growing different plant species along irrigation canals. Next, a forest fire control system using a wet forest buffer zone is set up based on the supply of irrigated water and rainwater. Fast-growing plants are grown to cover waterways so that moisture in the area can gradually rise and expand into both banks of the rivers. Consequently, moisture will make the trees healthy and will also help in preventing forest fires, as fires could easily occur if moisture is inadequate. The following step refers to the construction of Royal-initiated check dams, crossing waterways or small streams in a consecutive sequence in order to store water and soil sediments. The retained water will infiltrate the soil and make it damp on both sides of streams. The areas are transformed into wet forests. Next, water is pumped as high as possible to higher areas and is released little by little to slowly soak the soil in order to nurture forests on the highland.

Finally, banana trees are grown in designated areas in the forest, each area measuring around two meters wide. In case of fire, banana trees will serve as buffers as they can retain more water compared with other plants and will help to reduce water loss in the forest.

His Majesty’s initiative on the wet forest takes into consideration a theory on forest conservation and rehabilitation that is based on the assumption that moisture is key to hindering forest fires and keeping the forest green at all times.

This forest conservation and rehabilitation scheme can be conducted simply and with great efficiency.

The Royal initiative on the “mountain forest” is based

on a forest development and rehabilitation theory that takes into account the application of fundamental knowledge of science and technology in the implementation process.

The mountain forest is a breakthrough that demonstrates two developmental theories in forestry, as reflected in His Majesty’s remarks: “Water sources should be surveyed in order to construct small weirs that close waterways in head watershed areas so that moisture can spread widely and restore rich forest conditions in the highlands. Such an area will become a mountain forest in the future, referring to a variety of trees that cover the land at a density level that is suited to specific topographical features. The trees will help to maintain an optimal level of natural moisture that is not too dry. It will also help to hold precious topsoil, preventing its erosion and consequent flow to the lowlands.”

To ensure the availability of water sources in rehabilitation areas in deteriorated mountains, His Majesty has issued the following advice: “Water should be pumped to the highest point possible to continuously water seedlings that have been planted on the mountain, especially in the dry season when loss of seedlings is comparatively high. Once the seedlings have grown to an extent that they are tolerant of future droughts, the mountain in the area will revert to its original state as a mountain forest that contains considerable moisture and can help to restore the environment in the lower area, preventing it from becoming arid.”

An additional recommendation issued by His Majesty is as follows: “Water should be pumped continuously, step by step, to the highest point possible by using natural energy from the sun and wind in order to save fuel. Water reserves in high areas can be controlled so that water trickles down to facilitate forestation of both fire-retardant plants and fast-growing plants, and to transform the forest mountain into a wet forest that is capable of preventing forest fires.”

Mountain forest as a form of forestry conservation and development has been introduced in many Royal Development Study Centers in pursuance of His Majesty’s Royal initiative.

All interested persons are welcome to observe and study, particularly at the Huai Sai Royal Development Study Center, Cha-am District, Phetchaburi Province.

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Royal Initiative on the Development and Rehabilitation of Bog Forest

A bog forest is a type of evergreen forest. In Thailand

there is only one bog forest left in the Southern Region. Its main morphology is that of a tropical rain forest with blocked flood.

The bog forest is naturally built by sea waves that blow sandy soil which piles up as a barrier, eventually forming a large lake. The accumulation of dead plants in the blocked water causes a reaction that produces acidic water and consequently, acidic soil.

Thailand has 4 million rai of bog forests. The largest one is in Narathiwat Province. Bog forests are vast wetlands found along the north, south and east of the province. They cover 290,000 rai and consist of three large forests, namely Toh Daeng Bog, Bah Jor Bog and Karp Daeng Bog. Toh Daeng Bog, which is in an almost perfect natural state, is the largest bog forest in Thailand, having a total forested area of 216,500 rai that covers many districts.

Of the total number of bog forests in Narathiwat Province, some 60,525 rai of bog forests are in an abundant state, while 33,525 rai are deteriorated. There are 91,250 rai of Milkwood forest, 61,350 rai of pasture, and 27,275 rai of agricultural land. Some 16,075 rai are left for villages, shrub forests, and waterways.

Most of the land has been developed for agricultural activities. However, development has been slow because of the many unfavorable physical conditions of bog forests in Narathiwat Province. Continuing utilization of the forests without appropriate management has brought about further deterioration of the environment.

Origin of the Royal Initiative on the Development and Rehabilitation of Bog Forests His Majesty has issued an initiative to all concerned agencies to brainstorm concerning solutions to problems related to bog forests. Since 1974, in the early years of His Majesty’s temporary residence at the Thaksin Palace, His Majesty has kept Himself informed of the people’s hardships during the monsoon season because of damages caused by flooding in bog forests and farmlands. In response, His Majesty has issued a Royal order to find ways to drain water from the bogs, bringing maximum benefit to the villagers.

His Majesty has issued a Royal command to carry out a study and research on the problem of soil acidity resulting from the draining of water. Thus, the Pikun Thong Royal Development Study Center was set up in 1982 to serve as a focal point for the implementation of this project.

Land Use Zoning in Bog Forests in Narathiwat Province Pursuant to His Majesty’s Initiative Since many villagers have misused bog forests, disregarding relevant principles, some areas have been devastated and are now of no further use. These areas have therefore been abandoned, causing enormous problems for villagers living in the vicinity. In general, their economic condition has worsened as their farm yields dropped. Not having adequate knowledge

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of how to solve the problem on their own, the villagers have been unable to reuse the land. As a consequence, land development has been difficult.

high. There are also as ground plants, such as shrubs, vines, palm, rattan and assorted varieties of ferns.

Land Use Zoning in Bog Forests in Narathiwat Province

The Conservation Zone covers areas where large numbers of natural resources have been destroyed and no development project has yet been conducted to improve the situation. Forests are devastated because of mowing and forest fires in the driest season. The entire Conservation Zone is roughly 109,938 rai, with most of the affected areas situated west of Bah Jor Bog, in Mueang and Ra-ngae Districts and prairie together with the Toh Daeng Bog Forest in Takbai, Su-ngaipadee and Su-ngaiko-lok Districts. The mentioned areas are wetlands with flood water blocked almost all year round, rising to a maximum of 8 meters above the mean sea level. Generally the soil remains damp throughout the year. In the rainy season, the water level rises from 20-30 centimeters to 1 meter above the ground. Some soils are organic, some are inorganic and extremely acidic. As for the area south of Toh Daeng Bog, the upper soil is organic and is 1-3 meters thick, whereas the lower soil is muddy and contains a sulfuric compound. The blocked flood in this area mostly contains compounds that are extremely acidic and are brownish-black because of the high level of contamination from large quantities of suspended organic substances. Milkwood fills most of the forests. This zone also covers areas that once were damaged by fire. Plants

The Pikun Thong Royal Development Study Center has classified land use in bog forests in Narathiwat Province under three zones, based on His Majesty’s initiative.

Preservation Zone The Preservation Zone includes 56,907 rai of abundant forests that have never been disturbed by human activity. Most are in the central and southern parts of Toh Daeng Bog in Takbai District, Su-ngaipadee District and Su-ngaiko-lok District, as well as in the southern part of Bah Jor Bog in Mueang and Yi-ngor Districts. Normally the forests are flooded almost all year round. In the rainy season, the flood could be as high as 2-3 meters. The bog forest floor is uneven. Dry leaves and sticks accumulate on the ground, forming considerably high piles. Most of the trees have prop roots or buttresses. The forest ground is less than 8 meters higher than the mean sea level. Surface soils are organic on top and bluish/gray muddy soil underneath, containing a large amount of Pyrite compound.

In the area, diverse natural species grow thickly, including over 100 species of perennials with their crowns rising 20-30 meters

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Conservation Zone

that are widespread in these fire-damaged areas include Carex baccans Nees or Carex stramentita Boot, Stenochlaena palustris, reed (genus Cyperus), bulrush (genus Scirpus.) and groundcovered grasses. Another area in this zone is that in the past were slashed and abandoned.

Development Zone The Development Zone is an area of bog forests where blocked water has been partially drained and indigenous natural resources have been completely eradicated, providing space for agricultural activities and various development projects. The area is approximately 95,015 rai, mostly in the Bah Jor Settlement Cooperatives Project in Mueang, Yi-ngor and Bah Jor Districts, Pi Leng Settlement Cooperative in Takbai District and Su-ngaiko-lok District, Sapom Bog in Mueang District, Karp Daeng Bog in the border of Mueang and Takbai Districts. All the mentioned areas have been allocated for villagers to reside in and to put into good use. In most areas, an irrigation system is set up to drain water that is normally 1-1.5 meters above the ground. The Bah Jor Bog mostly comprises layers of organic soil that is less than 2.5 meters thick and is extremely acidic and has poor qualities for agricultural use. Underneath the organic soil is water and soil that is extremely acidic. The Karp Daeng Bog and Sapom Bog contain a large amount of mixed organic and inorganic soil.

To develop bog areas, the Pikun Thong Royal Development Study Center has drafted a master plan for the development and delineation of three land use zones to promote integrated implementation of economic and social development. The development schemes are specified as follows: The Preservation Zone is the area where forests are strictly preserved to minimize environmental change. The central responsible agency, the Royal Forest Department, has designated the zone as a wildlife sanctuary to strengthen preservation measures and make them more effective.

The Conservation Zone is the area where forests are rehabilitated into their original state. The area can be transformed later into a preservation zone or a development zone. Any activity conducted should benefit the forest without affecting its ecology and should first be approved by all concerned agencies. Therefore, the work plan for the Conservation Zone can be adjusted in compliance with set goals as follows: • To conduct studies and surveys of plant species, plant substitution and overall ecology of bog forests, with the Royal Forest Department as core agency.

• To conduct research on appropriate plant species for reforestation and to seek ways to enhance the growth of planted trees, with the Royal Forest Department as core agency.

• To promote public relations in order to discourage encroachment and other activities that are harmful to bog forests, with the Royal Forest Department and the Settlement Cooperatives as core agencies.

• During the implementation of all development projects in specific areas, environmental impact assessment reports on the forest should be submitted.

The Development Zone is the area that all relevant agencies jointly try to develop in order to uplift the farmers’ living standard, through the following means: • Solutions to soil and water problems are experimented on in order to define goals and approaches for future development.

• Full scale development of bog forests, encompassing water control, soil improvement, selection of crop species, cooperative and marketing, is implemented.

• Areas to be developed are selected to meet the needs of villagers by considering data on soil structure, water condition and geographical details.

• The government is responsible for infrastructure construction. In the initial stage, it is also responsible for the provision of materials needed for soil improvement and the distribution of several plant species among the villagers.

• The government provides budget and administrate development projects implemented in such areas.

Research studies on bog forests have made consistent progress. In support of His Majesty’s initiative, a working group has made the following suggestion. In order to improve the forests cohesively-in terms of conservation and development of certain areas in bog forests-and at the same time to gain the best results, government bodies, including the Office of the Royal Development Projects Board and the Royal Forest Department, should take action by identifying Ban Toh Daeng (on the right bank of Toh Daeng Canal at Moo 8, Poo Toh Sub-district, Su-ngaiko-lok District, Narathiwat Province) as a suitable site for study and research on bog forests. Another suggested action is the construction of the Sirindhorn Bog Forest Study Center as a tribute to Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on the auspicious anniversary of Her 36th birthday. The Center is open for the public to visit and study, in a comprehensive manner, the nature and environment of bog forests through bush walks and exhibitions.

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Royal-initiated Mangrove Forest Conservation and Development Project T he Royal-initiated Mangrove Forest Conservation

and Development Project demonstrates His Majesty’s determination to provide genuine happiness to the people and to promote their well-being.

Many mangrove forests in Thailand are in their naturally pristine state. These include tidal forests at Ya-Ring District, Pattani Province and in Ranong, Phang-nga and Satun Provinces, as well as in Phetchaburi and Samut Songkarm Provinces.

Mangrove forests Mangrove forests fall under many names, such as marine tidal forests and mud forests. They are located along coastal areas and estuaries in Thailand. Their morphology is that of a deciduous forest where trees are thickly grown and have different stilt roots or respiratory roots according to tree type.

Along Thailand’s entire coastal zone (around 2,600 kilometers), mangrove forests are found in only 36 percent of the coastal length. At present Thailand has approximately 1,679,335 rai of mangroves, representing an almost 50 percent reduction from the 2,229,345 rai of tidal forest in 1962.

Thailand’s mangrove forests are abundant along coastal areas on the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. After a relatively quiet period, encroachment into tidal forests has been incessant and has become increasingly violent.

During 1979-1986, the average decline in mangrove forests was 81,142 rai per year. These forests are commonly found in comparatively healthy condition in the South of Thailand along the Andaman Coast. However, those found in the South along the eastern coast of the Gulf of Thailand and in the central area around the estuary of the Gulf are deteriorating. The forests, which consist of small-size trees, are disturbed by human activities, such as the transformation of forests into prawn farms, salt farms and industrial sites. In the eastern coast, prawn farms have given rise to forest deterioration. Damages have also resulted from various agricultural activities, urbanization, construction of ports and pavements, electricity cabling as well as industrial factory, which all make the number of tidal forest decline at immeasurable amount.

His Majesty was informed about the problem and therefore issued a Royal command to the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Mr. Kosit Panpiamrast, on the Royal Ploughing Ceremony in the premises of Chitralada Villa, Dusit Palace, on 10 May 1991. The Royal initiative called attention to the following points: “The mangrove forest is useful for the ecological system of coastal areas and the Gulf of Thailand. At present, however, our forests are being encroached and destroyed by selfish people. Accordingly, we should seek the means to protect, conserve and propagate our forests. Essentially, mangroves are strange tidal plants that are somewhat difficult to grow since they depend on the tidal system, both high and low. Therefore, concerned government agencies, namely the Royal Forest Department, Department of Fisheries, Royal Irrigation Department, and Hydrographic Department, have been requested to jointly locate a favorable area for an experiment to propagate mangroves and to grow mangrove forests later.”

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Mangrove Forest Development and Rehabilitation Project The project which has Songkhla Province and Pattani Province as its target areas is a project initiated by a Royal address issued by His Majesty the King and HRH Princess Srinagarindra, the Princess Mother, on 16 July 1993, to M.R. Disnadda Diskul, Secretary-General of the Mae Fah Luang Foundation, and Mr. Sumet Tantivejkul, Secretary-General of Chaipattana Foundation, to join hands as core agencies in growing forests given by the Royal Family for the Thai people, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of His Majesty’s accession to the throne, demonstrating His Majesty’s strong will to rehabilitate the environment and to develop natural resources to sustain a long life.

Agencies from the government and private sectors coordinate the reforesting of tidal forests under the Royallygiven forests of the Chaipattana Foundation-Mae Fah Luang Foundation in Songkhla and Pattani provinces. These agencies are the TOTAL Foundation and Coastal Resources Institute, and Prince of Songkhla University which have planted mangrove forests under three minor sub-projects, as follows: • Mangrove Forest Development Community Project, Hua Kao Sub-district, Singhanakhon District, Songkhla Province • Yaring Mangrove Forest Natural Study Project, Yaring District, Pattani Province • Feasibility Study Project to Rehabilitate Mangrove Forests in Nong Jig District, Pattani Province

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Mangrove Forest Community Development Project, Hua Kao Sub-district, Singhanakhon District, Songkhla Province The project intends to develop a common attitude and better understanding among communities concerning the use of natural resources and the environment in Songkhla Lake and the Gulf of Thailand, on which the communities have long depended.

A strategy for mangrove forest development and rehabilitation at Hua Kao Sub-district offers another dimension in forestry development that involves relationships and mutual support between human beings and nature. The objectives are to conserve the environment, promote peace and order in community areas, and increase aquatic animal products by carrying out officially approved alternatives to fisheries, such as use of gill seine.

• To strengthen the community’s understanding that tidal forests are relevant to its livelihood, as well as to cooperate with the local people and concerned government agencies smoothly.

• To reinforce the participation of villagers in growing tidal forests and to build their sense of ownership of natural resources that are valuable to life and the livelihood of the local people.

Mangrove reforestation at Hua Kao Sub-district is implemented through various measures, including building confidence among community members to practice and take part in reforesting, building public awareness among the local people, creating familiarity, regularly promoting public relations on a regular basis, hosting joint discussions to draw resolutions for preparing reforestation in which the communities would construct seedling nurseries and provide seedlings to support tidal reforestation with the government and private sectors and other bodies.

An assembly of local villagers founded the Songkhla Lake Mangrove Forest Conservation Club, incorporating eight villages in Hua Kao Sub-district. The Club will carry out such activities as maintenance of nurseries, fencing forest areas, working towards an agreement with fishermen concerning forest conservation, and so on.

Mangrove reforestation by civil volunteers has been done occasionally, depending on opportunities and the appropriateness of relevant occasions. About 300 rai of tidal forests have been reforested so far.

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His Majesty’s royal initiative on mangrove reforestation is proof that the forest is valuable and greatly deserves to be conserved and developed.

Yaring Mangrove Forest Natural Study Center, Yaring District, Pattani Province In Yaring District, there is a vast area of tidal forests covering up to 9,080 rai. The forests’ general condition can be classified as very healthy. They are also beneficial to surrounding communities, directly and indirectly, and importantly as a production site for an abundance of shrimps, shell, crabs, and fish. The majority of the villagers are Muslim Thais who make a living from small-scale fisheries in the forest and also use some parts of the forest to grow white snapper in baskets along the river and canal, as well as black tiger shrimp in an area behind the forests.

The Yaring Mangrove Forest Natural Study Center is focused on efficiency in the management and conservation of mangrove forests, with a view to creating knowledge and understanding of the natural balance of tidal forests among all concerned parties, and to unite efforts among various communities and experts to sustain mangrove forests.

The establishment of the Mangrove Forest Natural Study Center will enhance the learning process for villagers, helping them to appreciate the environment in which the communities reside and encouraging them to participate in brainstorming sessions to promote all sorts of activities, including cultivating more mangrove forests to increase their number and managing the forests correctly and in accordance with local conditions.

In addition, the tidal forest research center will gather and disseminate academic information on mangrove forests to the general public.

The design for the construction of the Yaring Mangrove Forest Natural Study Center took into consideration the importance of natural conservation and harmonization with the original environmental state.

Furthermore, the Yaring tidal forest walkway, which is about 1,500 meters long, is supportive of the goal to make the forest a knowledge bank. The walkway promotes surveys of the forest and close contact with the forest, thus directly creating thorough understanding of relevant studies as the walkway itself offers information spots from where the forest could be explained clearly. This can be a model for tidal forest development and conservation in other areas.

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Royal-initiated Development Projects Royal Development Study Center His Majesty intends to upgrade the living standard of His loyal subjects and to make them self-reliant, based on His Majesty’s belief that to learn and experience by one’s self is the way to build the learning process in rural areas. Hence, His Majesty issued an initiative to establish Royal Development Study Centers in all regions throughout the country, in order to educate the villagers and enable them to apply their knowledge in practical terms afterwards. The centers serve as living museums, studying new technology together with the traditional livelihood of villagers, as explained in His Majesty’s speech, as follows: “It is a demonstration of turnkey development, including every aspect of life of villagers, such as, how to make a living in the rural areas, how to value and use advanced technology to make a living effectively.”

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“... One aspect is the aim of the Royal Development Study Centers to be a place for local research since weather conditions and population vary from locality to locality.” “... Departments and divisions that are concerned with the people in all facets of life can exchange ideas, reach compromises and coordinate among each other as usual. Each of them must have its own center although there might be certain areas of work that are exclusively under the sole responsibility of one department or division, and not involving other agencies. It is the Royal Development Study Centers that mobilize manpower from every department and division concerned with the agricultural or social sector, encouraging them to work together in both employment and education promotion. This means that people who need all sorts of technologies can come to observe, while officials will provide them assistance. Villagers and officials come to the same place but with two goals. It is the villagers who gain benefits and it is the authorities who will provide benefits.”

At present there are six Royal Development Study Centers, namely, 1.

Khao Hin Sorn Royal Development Study Center The center is situated in Pranomsarakam District, Chachoengsao Province. Its main responsibility is to conduct research, experiments, and demonstrations related to the development of farmlands belonging to the villagers, to make them abundant and increase their yields.

2.

Huai Sai Royal Development Study Center Located in Cha-am District, Phetchaburi Province, the center aims to formulate a plan and to set procedures to restore deteriorated forests, with the participation of farmers in cultivating, improving and conserving forests, thus enabling them to earn an income and to benefit from the forests at the same time.

3.

Kung Krabaen Bay Royal Development Study Center The center is located in Tah Mai District, Chanthaburi Province. It is aimed at studies and research in order to improve coastal fisheries for farmers, so that their gross yields will increase and they can achieve long-term self-sufficiency.

4.

Puparn Royal Development Study Center The center is in Mueang District, Sakhon Nakhon Province. It is aimed at carrying out agricultural research, taking into account actual conditions and the environment in the northeast. The activities include soil improvement, expediting forestry development by using irrigation systems, and cultivation of cash crops to help increase the villagers’ income.

5.

Huai Hong Khrai Royal Development Study Center The center is located in Doi Saket District, Chiang Mai Province. Its aim is to study and research suitable strategies for the development of head watershed areas to boost economic growth, in addition to other development activities that will enable the farmers to be self-reliant while conserving natural resources.

6.

Pikun Thong Royal Development Study Center The center is located in Mueang District, Narathiwat Province. It is focused on researching bog soil in a 400,000 rai-area in the South, with a view to making it more agriculturally productive.

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Royal Personal Development Projects

H is Majesty personally owned a piece of land

measuring 384 rai at Bang Taen Sub-district, Ban Sang District, Prachin Buri Province. His Majesty issued an initiative to develop this land in pursuance of the New Theory Project, by carrying out a number of simple development projects that are appropriate to the ecological system, natural resources and social conditions in each locality. The goal was to provide a model for villagers to study and put into practice the philosophy of Sufficiency Economy by creating adequate livelihoods that are within the capabilities of the villagers to carry out. His Majesty called the project the “Royal Personal Development Project”.

The project’s operations the following: • Complete Rice Cycle Project The project is being carried out on a 280-rai rice field.

Rice is a vital crop, a staple food and also a significant export product that has brought the country annual earnings amounting to many million Baht a year, mostly because of the high quality of Thai rice. Nevertheless, rice farmers now often encounter problems associated with the genetic mutation of rice and uncertified quality of rice seeds, resulting in the poor quality and quantity of rice produced. As a consequence, His Majesty issued a Royal command to the Bang Taen Royal Development Project to implement the Complete Rice Cycle Project, to produce rice seeds that farmers can borrow from the Rice Seed Bank, as well as to sell rice seeds at a reasonable price. The project’s rice harvests will be sold to agricultural groups in Prachin Buri Province and in neighbouring provinces. The project’s members will be able to borrow seeds to grow, selling the rice produce back to the project for eventual milling and sale.

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•

Integrated Agriculture Demonstration Project The project is implemented on a piece of land measuring 97 rai, 29 rai of which is a pond that supplies water to farmlands during the dry season, as well as to natural fish culture, thus providing farmers another way of earning a living through integrated agricultural system. The project is designed to maximize land use most effectively by allocating land for different purposes, as follows: livestock raising; farming; growing organic and toxic-free vegetables, ornamental plants, flowers, and Vetiver grass; composting; developing community forests; and providing clean and shady agro-tourism attractions.

• Area to Study the Impacts of Low-salt, Closed System of Black Tiger Prawn Culture This is being implemented by companies in the Charoen Pokphand Group in response to His Majesty’s initiative.

• Community Markets Project The project is conducted in a 6 rai area. The aim is to establish a foundation for community markets that would sell to members low-priced general goods, food products and appliances. These include materials and equipment of a rice mill, commodity and agricultural produces from the project itself and from adjacent areas. In addition, there is an open air market in front of the project area every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The open air market helps to provide employment and incomes for local farmers as well as those from nearby areas, allowing them to have a good quality of life and to develop self-reliance. At present, the project is under the administration of Bang Taen Communal Market Cooperative, Ltd.

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His Majesty’s Honours and Recognition

In recognition of His Majesty King Bhumibol Award Given to His Majesty’s Adulyadej’s talent, genius and vision, many institutions, both national and international, have presented His Majesty a large number of prestigious awards and honorary degrees.

Inventions and Projects

During the Brussels Eureka 2000: 49th World Exhibition, Innovation, Research and New Technology on 14-20 November 2000 in Brussels, Belgium, His Majesty the King’s inventions received awards from international and national committees, as follows:

Chaipattana Aeration Receives Five Awards of Distinction •

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The International Committee Award, the Minister J. Chabert Cup (Minister of Economics of Brussels Capital Region) and cash money amounting to 2,000 U.S. dollars, for the best invention, presented by Belgium’s Ministry of Economics.

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The International Committee Award, the Grand Prix International Cup (International Grand Prize), for the best invention, presented by the International Council of the World Organization of Periodical Press.

The International Committee Award, the Prix Ompi Femme Inventeur Brussels Eureka 2000 and certificate, for the best invention at the global level, presented by the World Organization of Intellectual Property (WIPO) to the best inventor.

The National Committee Award, Yugoslavia Cup, in recognition of His Majesty’s talents, presented by the former Yugoslavian countries.

The National Committee Award, Gold Medal with Mention and Certificate, in recognition of His Majesty’s talent to utilize technology effectively, presented by the Brussels Eureka 2000 Committee.

His Majesty’s Projects Receive the Gold Medal with Mention His Majesty’s innovative projects, namely New Theory, Artificial Rain and Bio-diesel made of Palm Oil, have been specially recognized with the award of the Gold Medal with Mention and certificates. In particular, the New Theory Project was praised as a human innovation resulting from a new idea or a new approach in the development of Thailand.

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Medals of Distinction His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s talent and genius, especially His work concerning science and technology, are recognized by the people in Thailand and from various countries around the world. Agencies, institutes, universities, and so on have presented His Majesty medals of distinction and tributes as follows:

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Honorary Medals Some of the medals presented by various international agencies to His Majesty the King are listed below.

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The Special Medal of the European Parliament, presented by the Chairman and Member of the European Parliament on 19 July 1975.

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The International Association of University Presidents Peace Award, presented by the Chairman of the Commission on Peace of the International Rector Society on 8 September 1986.

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The Asian Institute of Technology’s Gold Medal for Outstanding Leadership in Rural Development, presented by the Asian Institute of Technology on 21 July 1987.

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The Donovan Medal, presented by ex-members of the OSS organization on 29 October 1987.

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The Medal presented by the Chairman of the United Kingdom’s Royal College of Surgery at a technical conference between surgical colleges in Thailand and United Kingdom.

6.

The prestigious Rotary International Award of Honour, presented by the President of Rotary International on 17 August 1991.

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The Philae Medal, presented by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on 2 December 1991. Gold, Silver and Bronze medals were presented.

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The UNEP Gold Medal of Distinction, presented by the United Nations Environment Programme on 4 November 1992.

The Health for All Gold Medal, presented by the World Health Organization on 24 November 1992.

The recognition medal on biodiversity conservation, The Natural Pro Futura, presented by the Committee of the International Society of Chemical Ecology (ISCE) on 26 January 1993.

The International Erosion Control Association’s International Merit Award, presented by the Committee of the United States International Erosion Control Association (IECA).

The Award of Recognition of Technical and Development Accomplishment in the Promotion of Vetiver Technology International, presented by the World Bank on 30 October 1993.

The Award of Appreciation in recognition of His Majesty’s outstanding contributions to drug control efforts in Thailand, presented by the United Nations International Drug Control Programme on 12 December 1994.

The Agricola Medal in recognition of His Majesty’s devotion to the well-being and happiness of all people in Thailand, particularly those who till the soil, tend the waters and nurture the forests, presented by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on 6 December 1996.

The International Rice Award Gold Medal presented by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) on 5 June 1996.

The Merite de l Invention Medal presented by the Belgian Chamber of Inventors on 5 June 2000.

Honorary Degrees 1.

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Docteur en Droit, Honoris Causa, presented by Universite de Saigon, Vietnam, on 19 December 1959.

Honorary Degree of Doctor of Law, presented by Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia, on 12 February 1960.

Honorary Degree of Doctor of Law, presented by Peshawar University, Pakistan, on 15 March 1962.

Honorary Degree of Doctor of Law, presented by the University of the Philippines, on 13 July 1963.

Honorary Degree of Doctor of Law, presented by Williams College, U.S.A., on 11 May 1967.

Honorary Degree of Doctor of Law, presented by the University of Melbourne, Australia, on 3 September ’ 1967.

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Honorary Degree of Doctor of Engineering, presented by the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand, on 7 May 1975.

Distinguished Diploma of Honor, presented by Pepperdine University, U.S.A., on 10 August 1979.

Honorary Degree of Doctor of Law, presented by Tufts University, U.S.A., on 2 July 1984.

Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humanities, presented by the University of Hawaii, U.S.A., on 7 January 1986.

In addition in 2000, the United Kingdom’s Institute of Civil Engineers presented His Majesty the King the Honorary Degree of Engineering, in recognition of His Majesty’s talent and genius in engineering. This has brought happiness to all Thai citizens.

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From Our Hearts

The Celebrations on the Occasion of the Sixtieth Anniversary of His Majesty’s Accession to the Throne

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His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and the Conservation on Natural Resources and Environment

ISBN:

978-974-7086-62-1

Advisors: Kasem Snidvongs Panat Tasneeyanond Petipong Pungbun Na Ayudhya Apiwat Sretarugsa Chirawan Pipitphoka Surachai Sasisuwan Chartree Cheuyprasit Somchai Pienstaporn Suwat Singhapant

Gen. Nipon Parunnitr Gen. Noppadol Wathanotai Sahas Boonyaviwat Khun Ying Kulsab Ketmankij Santhad Rojanasoonthon

Director: Monthip Sriratana Tabucanon

Directing Committee: Adisak Thongkaimook Paisal Kuwalairat Orapin Wongchumpit Samai Chiemchindaratana Virat Khaouppatum Chalermsak Wanichsombat Apichai Chvajarernpun Wichai Lamwilai Nisakorn Kositratna Siripong Hungspreug Somkid Buapeng

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Kasemsun Chinnavaso Supat Wangwongwatana Akanit Ampawasiri Sophon Dumnui Weerachai Na Nakorn Nukool Vinijvalai Pornthip Puncharoen Pradit Boontantrapiwat Rachanee Emaruchi Boonchob Sughamanuswong Maj. Gen. Napadol Karoonyavanich

Sirin Kawra-ied Malee Hutacharoen Sakol Thinakul Anong Chanomool

Col. Panuwatr Nakwong Col. Suradech Kanchanarat Lt. Col. Pisit Mookpetch

Editor: Nongpa-nga Sukavanich

Assistant Editor: Jaruk Paliphod

Translator: Sittiporn Kajornatiyudh

Language Editor: Teresita M. Padilla

Coordinators: Weerawat Paphussaro Suwanna Tiansuwan Sriamphan Yu-khongkhram Pronthip Sarikabutr Nueatip Ratana Bunpot Amaraphibal Vuttiphan Satitavon Pornpimol Barathorn Paitoon Ngamying Damrongsak Chanwalai Rarai Thiangtham Sompong Barnyen Tasanee Bunyawat Tanawan Songpragob Udom Pankran Haruthai Papussaro Napa Auewprasert Amornrat Boonnak Kiti Chuntrapanon Sitsada Chom-in Natthawan Ploytuptim Sakulrat Pornrungruangkul Arnucha Yotee Sutkanung Deeprasert Piyabootr Suwanmata

Lt. Col. Montri Veatyongkul Lt. Col. Preeda Mamuangbon Capt. Somkiat Theanwattana Capt. Wachirapol Siriyothin Narat Sawongrung Anong Sawanwattanakul Panitnat Phunchan Aroonrat Wongwirat Amporn Yiratikorn Manop Chantara-akapat Chanram Samphanwiwat Manwadee Nutiyu Kunrat Sungyung Ariratana Chumrounpucksa Somchart Soontonnulux Natthakarn Neakaew Anan Pornjaroronj Youpares Boontam SM1 Winai Boonmamee SM1 Sumruaj Mongkumti SM1 Akarapon Im-anong SM1 Wachirapon Jaipeng SM1 Wallop Leeladee SM1 Samran Chamroen SM1 Suriya Prathumrat

599

Tumnong Chusin Lalintip Vanmongkon Amarit Boonwat Rachanee Srisoye Panom Paliphod Sittiporn Satansatit Panom Siwaipham

Sgt. Narong Hanvej Sgt. Wachara Thongpa Sgt. Krisda Iam-ongkit Sgt. Mana Leepasook Yodchai Chansawang Wutipong Naksakul

Proofreaders: Preecha Tanaviwatchai Raweerat Songsamphant Nongnit Saree-ngam

Artist: Getganok Buddhacharern

Photographs: Bureau of the Royal Household Royal Irrigation Department Department of Environmental Quality Promotion

Designed and Published: Integrated Promotion Technology Co., Ltd.

Available from: Department of Environmental Quality Promotion Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment 49 Rama VI Soi 30, Rama VI Road, Sam Sen Nai, Phayathai, Bangkok 10400 Thailand Telephone (66) 2278 8400-19, (66) 2298 5645 Facsimile (66) 2298 5645

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