Suchart Opens National Mangrove Seminar, Driving 'Blue Carbon' Toward Sustainability
Minister Suchart opened Thailand's 16th National Mangrove Seminar, emphasizing mangroves as a strategic resource for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 through blue carbon mechanisms. The event featured ecosystem restoration activities an
The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment hosted the 16th National Mangrove Seminar for 2025 under the theme "From Royal Grace to People: The Mangrove Botanical Garden" to commemorate National Mangrove Day. Minister Suchart Chamklin opened the event and led participants in ecosystem enhancement activities, planting over 10 plant species and releasing approximately 9,999 aquatic animals, while visiting exhibitions from Thailand Mangrove Alliance partners including PTT, SCG, and Dow Thailand, as well as research networks and community product booths from Chanthaburi province.
The seminar served as a national-level mangrove academic forum, featuring special presentations from Prof. Dr. Sanit Aksornkoae, chairman of the International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems (ISME), and Dr. Pinsak Surasawadee, director of the marine and coastal resources department. Minister Suchart emphasized that the government considers mangroves a "strategic resource" and is leveraging blue carbon mechanisms as a key tool to achieve Thailand's net-zero emissions target by 2050, reflecting the nation's readiness in knowledge, research, and public participation to develop a sustainable blue economy. Mangrove ecosystems serve as critical nature-based infrastructure that maintains the land-sea interface balance, reduces wave and wind severity, filters pollution, and functions as a powerful global carbon storage system.
Prof. Dr. Sanit Aksornkoae noted that mangroves today face multifaceted challenges from climate change, rising sea levels, and unsustainable resource use, requiring integrated mechanisms combining academic knowledge with proper management, and crucially, "building awareness and participation across all sectors" from local to international levels. He stressed that creating correct understanding and awareness of mangrove values forms the foundation for sustainable conservation and use.
Dr. Pinsak Surasawadee added that the department remains committed to rigorous and continuous mangrove conservation, restoration, and protection against encroachment.
