BLCP Power Station co-supported the construction and organized the inauguration ceremony for the handover of the Phra Chedi Klang Nam Mangrove Forest Learning Center building in Rayong Province on November 27, 2020, from 09:00 to 12:00. The objective is to extend and sustain learning about mangrove forests and various bird species along the nature trail.
This learning center is located in the Phra Chedi Klang Nam Mangrove Forest, Pak Nam Subdistrict, which is a gem of Rayong city and an important landmark. BLCP Power Station has provided both financial support and encouragement for the care of the mangrove forest. Ms. Kanokorn Japathong, President of the Mangrove Forest Conservation and Restoration Group, serves as the center's caretaker, aiming to facilitate easier access to knowledge for tourists and students.
One of the important plant species found in mangrove forests is "Samet Khao" (Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S.T.Blake), which often grows in large clusters in waterlogged lowlands behind mangrove forests and in areas with shallow standing water. The bark of the Samet Khao tree is used for various purposes, such as roofing, making house walls, wrapping fish cakes, and dyeing fishing nets. The dried fruit is used to make black pepper.
Samet Khao wood can be used for piles, house construction, furniture, fences, and charcoal. Additionally, oil extracted from Samet leaves is refined into massage oil and used to dye fabrics a light brown color, making them insect-resistant. Samet forests are also habitats for bees and water birds, and help retain water, reducing the acidity of water before it is used for rice cultivation.
Currently, the Phra Chedi Klang Nam Mangrove Forest Learning Center is open daily from 08:30 to 16:30, except during the COVID-19 pandemic when visits were suspended. Further details can be found in the attached file.
