SDG 14
Indicator 14.5.1
Sustainability and Stewardship
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RUTS Long Term Plan to Reducing Ecosystem Alterations in Andaman Coastal Area
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| Reporters: |
Dr. Chanyut Sudtongkong
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Dr. Thongchai Nitiratsuwan |
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Miss. Kanokwan Juhong |
October 28, 2024
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Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya (RUTS) provides academic services and conducts research to foster knowledge that benefits economic, social, and environmental progress. Currently, RUTS Trang Campus, situated along the Andaman coast, Trang province, emphasizes teaching, research, and community services aimed at coastal resource protection.
RUTS has a long-term plan (year 2018-2037) prioritizes coastal conservation and restoration to ensure a sustainable balance between preservation and resource use. This strategy aligns with the Trang Provincial Development Plan to manage natural resources, protect the environment, and safeguard rare marine species like the dugong.
Dugongs are classified as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Thailand’s dugong population is estimated at around 250 individuals, with approximately 70% located in the coastal waters of Trang Province. These marine mammals inhabit shallow, seagrass-rich waters, making them susceptible to human activities like fishing. Despite legal protections under Thailand’s Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act of 2019, the population remains critically low, heightening the risk of extinction.
RUTS has been instrumental in Dugong and habitat conservation efforts. Collaborating with the Trang Traditional Fishermen’s Club, Andaman Foundation, local and provincial governments, and other academic institutions, RUTS helped establish the Dugong Conservation Plan (DCP) for Trang province.
The DCP’s objectives are threefold: (1) to protect dugongs and their habitats by reducing threats to their survival; (2) to conduct research that supports effective conservation measures; and (3) to raise public awareness and foster community involvement in dugong conservation initiatives.
Additionally, as outlined in the RUTS long-term plan and the Dugong Conservation Plan (DCP), the establishment of the Dugong and Endangered Marine Animal Conservation Research Center is scheduled for 2023 at the RUTS Trang campus. This center will feature a hospital dedicated to the treatment and rehabilitation of sick dugongs and other endangered marine species, as well as a research facility focused on the study of these animals. The primary objectives of the center are to advance research and conservation efforts related to dugongs and their habitats, while also fostering awareness and encouraging public participation in the conservation and care of these marine animals and their ecosystems.
On March 23, 2023, Professor Suwat Tanyaros, President of Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya, convened a meeting with Asst. Prof. Udon Namsen, Vice President, along with other executives and staff from the Trang Campus of Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya. The purpose of the meeting was to assess the progress of various management initiatives within the Trang Campus area. The attendees conducted an inspection of the project site aimed at developing the Dugong and Endangered Marine Animal Conservation Research Center to the conservation and rehabilitation of dugongs and other rare marine species in Trang Province. This inspection was part of an ongoing evaluation of construction efforts at the Institute of Natural Resources and Environment at Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya, Trang Campus. The project received budgetary support totaling 2,044,046.81 USD for the fiscal year 2023.
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Related Links:
https://plan.rmutsv.ac.th/ruts/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/RUTS-Long-term-plan-20-years_0.pdf
https://trang.rmutsv.ac.th/trang/?q=th/news/2756-1687767083-63-260623
https://nrei.rmutsv.ac.th/th/content/340-1425464279-245-040315
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