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💚🌱 That’s a wrap for the “Community x Experts Exchange Forum” in Bang Kachao! Turning creative ideas into action

On 14 September, the Office of the Public Sector Development Commission (OPDC), together with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Thailand Office, Samut Prakan Province, and partner networks, came together to develop five key strategies to turn the concept of “restoring ecosystems and building a nature-positive economy” into action in the Bang Kachao area. More than 140 people joined the activity.

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Five models to further develop our “green lung” include:

1️⃣ Promoting high-value agriculture 🌱

Turning limited growing space into an opportunity by cultivating water-efficient crops, processing local produce to add value, and developing Bang Kachao into a “healthy food community” while creating sustainable income for farmers.

2️⃣ Turning saline water and soil into opportunities 🌊

Responding to environmental challenges through smart solutions, including experimenting with growing crops in cement tanks and promoting salt-tolerant plants such as aromatic coconut and sapodilla, as well as processing tropical almond wood to extract oil.

3️⃣ Innovative water management through technology 💧

Centralising the management of water gates through a Single Command system and using smartphone technology to precisely control the opening and closing of saltwater and freshwater gates, with local communities playing an active role.

4️⃣ Connecting agro-ecology with creative tourism 💡

Creating new value from local plants such as yang na and mahogany, while combining nature-based tourism with new recreational activities, including saltwater golf field and cycling routes, to distribute income throughout the community.

5️⃣ Improving regulations and creating incentives for the next generation ⚖️

Reviewing regulations that may hinder local development while introducing incentives for those who help preserve green spaces, encouraging younger generations to return and contribute to their hometowns alongside conservation efforts.

The journey to restore Bang Kachao and foster both economic and environmental growth is only just beginning. The strategies will be incorporated into Thailand’s National Action Plan as part of the country’s commitment as a member of the Open Government Partnership (OGP).

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Contact

Orapan Suwanwattanakul

Orapan Suwanwattanakul
Project Manager
Orapan.Suwanwattanakul@kas.de +66 (0) 2 714 1207 +66 2 714 1307

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About this series

The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, its educational institutions, centres and foreign offices, offer several thousand events on various subjects each year. We provide up to date and exclusive reports on selected conferences, events and symposia at www.kas.de. In addition to a summary of the contents, you can also find additional material such as pictures, speeches, videos or audio clips.