Master Plan for Saraburi

Chulalongkorn has new uses for land in province

Chulalongkorn University has drawn up a master plan to develop a piece of land in Saraburi province which it received from the Foundation of Chulalongkorn University Alumni and another plot from the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives.

The ministry has given the university permission to utilize a plot of deforested land in the Pa Khao Pong and Pa Khao Tham Sua national forest reserves, which straddle tambons Diew, Huay Haeng and Cham Pak Paew in Kaeng Khoi district of Saraburi. The conditions are specified in the annex of the Royal Forest Department announcement allowing state agencies to utilize national forest reserves for 30 years, starting from 2007.

The master plan has been designed to create connectivity between the university and the Saraburi provincial administration to help foster technical development, research, learning and local knowledge.

The land development project is divided into four zones: conservation, research, technical and management. Work is now proceeding in accordance with the plan. Projects include:

1. Support for research under the Plant Genetic Conservation Project initiated by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and the establishment of a coordinating center in support of the project;
2. Reforestation;
3. Support for the work of the CU Saraburi Engagement program;
4. Transfer of technical knowledge and expertise from the university to local people to meet their needs, in a way that will also allow university students to learn from local people;
5. Application of technology to ecological rehabilitation such as production of wong and yang saplings; dredging of ponds to store water; building weirs; transfer of technology in reforestation for ecological conservation; planting of vetiver grass to prevent soil erosion and the use of mycorrhiza fungi for forest restoration;
6. Learning activities. These include the launch of the Ecology Lab of the Faculty of Science, and a training and learning center for veterinary students.

For more information, please visit http://www.prm.chula.ac.th/PRM-ENG/web/projects03.html