The Coordinating Center for the Royal Projects carried out by Khon Kaen University led by Asst. Prof. Dr. Penprapa Phetcharaburanin, Director of the center is carrying out a Caring Forest, Caring Water Project under the Royal intention for farmers in Khon Kaen, from February until September 2020. This project is aimed at building learning processes, providing knowledge and understanding in resources and the environment, and building awareness of the value and importance of the resources so that they will cooperate in sustainable development of the environment. Activities related to resources and environment have been conducted in various aspects. Forests have been developed for their fertilities and as the natural food resource of community people. The network that promotes learning and sharing between the communities and participating organizations was established, and training of leaders and villagers on surveying of forest resources has been carried out so that participants would see the benefits of the forest, set up forest committee, grow more trees. Moreover, training on how to build fire-preventing fences has been arranged to build awareness in sustainable use of resources.
On August 26, 2020 – The Coordinating Center for the Royal Projects of Khon Kaen University made a trip to the community to raise conscience in forest conservation. The activity carried out was under the Caring Forest, Caring Water Project, at Ban Nongthum, Ban Kong Sub-district, Khon Kaen. The public forest area here measures 32 rais, and has been agreed by all Ban Kong people to cooperate in its conservation, by means of building balance of conservation and sustainable utilization. Mr. Nopporn Nontapa, a scientist of Department of Pharmaceutical Botany of Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, Khon Kaen University, who is interested in restoring indigenous forests, was the trainer who shared knowledge in forest management and planning of forest annual management. The community was to make an agreement and forest regulations. From August to October, they will carry out a survey on the forest flora (from the past to the present). From October to March, they are going to cultivate seedlings. In April next year, the fire-preventing fences will be built. The final plan will be to build food sources. The community people will spread fungi starters in the forests, including many types of edible mushrooms.
Mr. Nopporn Nontapa taught the villagers how to spread fungi in the area. This begins from preparing a mature mushroom in 5 liters of water, not less than this. In order to spread the starter, there is a need to look at the form of the tree. The ground must be dug towards the tree for a distance of 30 cm. The starter mixture can then be poured in and the soil turned. Before the sprouting of mushroom, the roots are not to be disturbed. It is important to learn about factors enabling sprouting.
Mushrooms like Het Phoh, Het Rangok, Het Khai, and Het Nammak can grow from trees like Yangna, Takhian, Teng (Jik), Rang Hung), Hiang (Chad), Pluang (Kung), Krad (Sabaeng), Payom and Krabak. Mushrooms in Het Tap Tao group requires a host, which can be any tree with roots such as mango, Pradu, Thonglang, Takhob, Hnag Nok Yung, Khae Pa, Khae Na. Termite mushroom group or Het Pluak needs termites since termites have the termite mushroom starters.
Mrs. Pornwadee Uppakhot, a villager of Ban Nongthum said on behalf of the community, “We thank Khon Kaen University for training us. The knowledge is very useful for the community. If we can farm the mushrooms, we will have another food source. If there are a lot of mushrooms, then we will earn more income.”
During the past fiscal year, conservation and environmental development activities was conducted. Soil quality was improved and a water distributing system was made. Forests were restored while the community conscience was raised at Villages No 9 and No 14 of Yangkham Sub-district, Nongrua District, Khon Kaen. In the 2018 fiscal year, the office set an aim to develop work in natural resources and environment and expand the work in other communities nearby.
The Coordinating Center for the Royal Projects of Khon Kaen University has been coordinating with communities to transfer academic knowledge and the intentions of King Rama IX to them. His Majesty King Rama IX saw the importance of forest, drought, floods, which are the result of deforestation. His Majesty was thus determined to solve and conserve forests until they were fertile as before. This would lessen floods and water would be saved for use.
The Caring Forest, Caring Water Project under the Royal intention, which was held for Khon Kaen farmers during the beginning of this year was composed of activities in making the communities familiar with KKU. When the communities were confident that they had a supporting source, they would start to follow. When the project became successful, they began to love and cherish their resources. This is the principle behind the work carried out with the community that will lead to sustainable community development.
[ Thai ]
News: Wachara Noichopoo
Photos: Khon Kaen University’s Royal Projects
