BANGKOK, The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), in collaboration
with mai-listed Company Association (maiA), the Royal Forest Department, and
communities, reforests 91 rais under SET-led collaborative Climate Action, Care
the Wild: “Plant & Protect” project, in Ban Wiang sub-district of Rong Kwang
district, Phrae province in the northern part of Thailand. The initiative is to
rehabilitate the ecosystem in the upstream forest area, create food sources, and
generate income for 390 community households, leading to balanced development
and co-exist with communities and environment in a sustainable way.
SET President Pakorn Peetathawatchai said that SET has rolled out the Care the
Wild “Plant & Protect” project since the year 2020 as a platform of
collaboration among the business, the government, the social sectors and
communities to build sustainable reforestation. This can be carried out by
‘planting’ trees to expand forestland, ‘protecting’ the forest by promoting
community participation in forest maintenance, and embracing forests via the
governance mechanism of transparent information disclosure. The ultimate aim is
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, cope with climate change, and solve
environmental problems, in accordance with SET’s vision: ‘To Make the Capital
Market Work for Everyone’.
“SET and maiA have jointly raised fund for planting 18,200 trees on 91 rais, of
which 25 rais have been reforested by SET and the remaining 65 rais by
mai-listed companies, in the community forests of Ban Oi and Ban Boon Roeng
villages in Ban Wiang sub-district of Rong Kwang district, in Phrae province.
The expected results are that the 91-rai reforestation will annually absorb
greenhouse gases amounting to 163,800 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalents,
and rehabilitate the ecosystem in the upstream forest area. Moreover, the
project will benefit 390 households or about 1,300 people who can grow
agricultural products for consumption and commercial purposes, generate income
and add value to develop the area in to an ecotourism destination creating
community empowerment in the long run,” added Pakorn..
maiA President Trisorn Volyarngosol said that mai-listed companies have
continuously cooperated with one another as a network to exchange viewpoints
and experiences to drive sustainable business growth. In addition, maiA has
participated in SET’s various environmental projects aiming to create business
models that enable business organizations of all sizes to jointly solve social
and environmental problems for the wider and more effective outcomes.
Currently, the Care the Wild “Plant & Protect” project has expanded the
forestatiobn altogether for a total of 145 rai in six provinces across various
regions: Chiang Rai and Nan in the North; Maha Sarakham in the Northeast; and
Suphan Buri, Ratchaburi and Phetchaburi in the Central Plains. Interested
organizations are welcome to take part in this effective reforestation.
Source: The Stock Exchange of Thailand