September 20, 2022 — The Final Coordination and Evaluation Meeting (FCEM) was held for the regional project on “Domestication of Endangered, Endemic, and Threatened Plant Species (EETS) in Disturbed Terrestrial Ecosystems in Malaysia and Thailand” (AFoCO/010/2016). As the host country, Thailand welcomed all the participants from Malaysia and AFoCO Secretariat. During the FCEM, project managers from Thailand and Malaysia presented their multiyear physical and financial progress.
Malaysia also shared its publication titled ‘Selected Endangered, Endemic and Threatened Tree Species Planted on an Ex-Tin Mine in Malaysia.’ The publication describes the excellent progress the project has achieved since its launching and features photos of EETS planted in the project. After the presentations, the Meeting discussed the project closure process including the necessary steps for official closure completion. It was agreed that following the project completion in December 2022, the project sites in Malaysia and Thailand will be utilized for further research and field/study trips.
On 21 September 2022, an on-site visit to the Takuapa project site at Phang-Nga Forestry Research Station, Takuapa District, Phang-Nga Province, Thailand was conducted. Located two hours away from the Phuket city center, the research station is being managed in cooperation with the Faculty of Forestry of Kasetsart University. Mr. Wasan Chandaeng provided a brief presentation on the project background, progress, and achievements at the Meeting. He highlighted that 1 ha demonstration plots were established with a total of seven (7) EETS plants from 2016 through 2017 and were being maintained in cooperation with the Faculty of Forestry of Kasetsart University.
Mr. Sapol Boonsermsuk, AFoCO National Focal Point of Thailand and Director of Forestry Foreign Affairs Office, Royal Forestry Department, thanked the project team of Thailand, Forest Research Institute Malaysia, and the AFoCO Secretariat as the Chairperson of the Meeting for their efforts in coordinating the regional project.
Submitted by Cha Jiyea, Assistant Program Officer
