Ecological Forest Restoration
The area dedicated for forest ecological restoration study and learning in Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Park, spanning 40-rai, was once a local community and residence with farms and orchards. Then, the land was covered by pioneer species, weeds and non-native plants distributed naturally. With these unique biological characteristics, the forest ecological requires different methods for restoration.
Forest Restoration Concept
The forest restoration approach takes into account harmony with the existing environment and ecosystems, as well as with the local community’s way of life, with focus on restoring the existing ecology in terms of forest structure, biomass production and ecological diversity. This ecological forest replicates the entire ecosystem of Bang Kachao and comprises three forest types:
Swamp Forest: restoring by growing 26 tree species, such as White cheesewood, Java plum, Tembusu, Dolichandrone spathacea, Lepisanthes fruticosa, Vitex glabrata, etc.
Lowland Evergreen Forest: restoring by growing 15 tree species, including Dipterocarpus alatus, Hopea odorata, Shorea roxburghii, White cheesewood, Ebony tree, Java plum, Tembusu, mango, Dolichandrone serrulata, Mansonia gagei, Champak, Bo tree, Cinnamon, Red wood and Knema erratica. These species will be canopy trees and cover lower plants
Mangrove Forest: restoring by growing 13 tree species, such as Mangrove apple, Rhizophora apiculate, Rhizophora mucronata, Vigna mungo, Navy bean, Xylocarpus moluccensis, Xylocarpus granatum, Hibiscus tiliaceus, Thespesia populnea, Dolichandrone spathacea, Intsia bijuga, Barringtonia asiatica, and Derris indica. When these trees grow, there will be an established mangrove forest.
Process of Ecological Reforestation
- Selecting tree species that are associated with the natural ecosystem
- Replanting area preparation by making it 1.5 times wider and deeper compared to the soil covering the roots and fertilizing with organic fertilizer.
- Replanting with consideration of the diversity of tree species and stratification of canopy layers, since each species has different functions and characteristics, e.g., sunlight/shade tolerance, animal feed resources, soil erosion prevention, etc.
Grown Forests
After growing thousands of plants from dozens of species, the restored biological diversity in the ecosystem will become more and more noticeable. A healthy forest structure is then formed consisting of ground-level plants, such as Vegetable Ferns and Stenochlaena palustris, and little shrubs or medium-sized trees, such as Streblus asper, Ardisia polycephala wall, Madras thorn, Java plum, etc.