Somdet Phra Srinakarindra Boromrajajonani

History

Her Royal Highness Princess Somdet Phra Srinakarindra Boromrajajonani had a strong royal wish to restore the balance of nature by always planting and nurturing trees by herself, and placed the importance of maintaining planted trees as more important and worrisome than planting trees.

To express gratitude to Her Royal Higness Princess Somdet Phra Srinakarindra Boromrajajonani, worked on Thailand’s rural development especially restoring the balance of nature, the Cabinet of Ministers of Thailand passed resolution on 26th June 1990 to designate Her Royal Highness Princess Srinakarindra’s birthday on 21st October of every year as the National Annual Tree Maintenance Day, and the relevant departments were asked to brainstorm opinions from the general public to make appropriate nominations.

From the brainstorming session, it appeared that the appropriate name is the National Annual Tree Care Day and was presented to the Cabinet on 15th October 1990 to give Thai people a chance to show their sacrifice and unity to pay homage to Her Royal Highness Princess Srinakarindra Boromrajajonani by jointly maintaining planted trees in various places at the end of the rainy season of every year.

The activity on the National Annual Tree Care Day

The Royal Forest Department together with government departments, ministries, and all provinces across the country organize activities on 21st October of every year by inviting people, students, as well as government and private sectors to promote and hold the activities such as the maintenance planted trees, fertilizing, and removing weeds from tree roots.

AU and National Annual Tree Care Day in Thailand

The Assumption University of Thailand community observes the National Annual Tree Care Day in Thailand on October 21, 2021 well recognizing that the planet earth faces a dark red threat of further global climate change and related inexplicable forest fires and flooding in the midst of global warming increasing at about 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit. Since 1994 the Kingdom of Thailand has adopted the practice of planting trees especially on October 21 each year to help reduce ozone levels reduction and enhance green spaces so that no only trees can grow, but soil can also be protected.

With the completion of the infrastructure construction at the Assumption University of Thailand’s Suvaranabhumi campus, Rev. Bro. Dr. Prathip Martin Komolmas embarked on planting various types of trees on campus so that learners can experience nature in its green vegetative form and identify their own growth alongside the growth of trees in the natural environment. In more recent times, Rev. Bro. Dr. Achin Tengtrakul, the Vice President for Administrative Affairs, assisted by blue collar workers at the University, has planted trees on campus to help augment the greenery around and recycle the air.

In the larger landscape, soil preservation and sustenance of the integrity of the firmness of the land needs to be consciously advocated and propagated by more of the Assumption University community members through reforestation projects as social service. 

On October 21, 2021 we as one united international family at the Assumption University of Thailand stand together and hold hands in our love for trees, committing to grow more trees so that we can save our country, planet and our fellow human beings.

Glen Chatelier

Director, The Office of International Affairs

Source:

กรมป่าไม้(ม.ป.ป.). วันรักต้นไม้ประจำปีของชาติ.: http://old.forest.go.th/forestprotect_people/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=411