Planting for the planet

Jacques Rocher the honorary president of French skincare brand Yves Rocher, recently ventured down to Trang to complete the “Plant for the Planet” project that restores damaged green lands all over the world.
    Initiated in 2006 by Yves Rocher Foundation with support from Institut de France, the Plant for the Planet project has been working closely with the United Nations Environment Programme (Unep) and aims to give back the planet 50 million trees by 2008 to commemorate the brand’s 50 years of global recognition.
    The project has graced countries like Mexico, Morocco, Russia, China, Madagascar, Ethiopia, India and Senegal among many others to restore deteriorated forests. In Thailand, the project aims to rejuvenate mangrove forest and marine life in Trang’s Baan Tung Ta Se. Teaming up with Chulalongkorn University’s Integrated Mangrove Rehabilitation Project, led by associate professor Nittharatana Paphavasit, the project planted 111,000 mangrove trees and released 25,000 mangrove crabs in 320 square kilometres of forestland.
    The event was also joined by Yves Rocher representatives, as well as affiliated university scholars, representatives from Trang’s municipality, students and villagers who braved the fiery sun to plant mangrove roots and release the crabs in the remote swamp. The project plans to expand the restoration to an adjacent 160sqkm of land, and the village’s herb forest nearby in the future.