Plant Genetic Conservation Project under the Royal Initiative
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn
In Support of the Royal Initiative by Nakhon Phanom University
RSPG Project – Nakhon Phanom University
Background
His Majesty the King recognized the importance of plant genetic conservation and initiated efforts to conserve natural resources and biodiversity from 1960 onward. With royal initiative, the collection and preservation of rare and endangered plant species were undertaken.
Later, in 1992, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn continued this royal initiative by granting the Chitralada Palace Private Project to establish a plant gene bank, beginning in 1993. From the past to the present, the Plant Genetic Conservation Project under the Royal Initiative of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (RSPG) has received broad support from many organizations. The project’s areas and activities have expanded and spread to regions nationwide, with increasingly diverse approaches over time, and has achieved tangible benefits for the country.
Nakhon Phanom University was authorized to establish a coordination center for the Plant Genetic Conservation Project under the Royal Initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (RSPG) on 12 July 2024. The center supports the Royal Initiative on resource conservation and aims to study and collect information on plants, local wisdom, and their use in the daily lives of community members. It also promotes awareness and appreciation of the value of biological and physical resources within communities, contributing to the development and conservation of plant genetic resources for sustainable community benefits.
Project Master Plan
To achieve the stated objectives and goals, implementation guidelines and plans were developed in accordance with the RSPG 6th Five-Year Master Plan (1 October 2016 – 30 September 2021). The plan consists of eight activities under three implementation frameworks and three resource bases: physical resources, biological resources, and cultural and intellectual resources.
RSPG supports and collaborates with participating organizations in preparing annual action plans for various activities under the Master Plan for each fiscal year throughout the five-year period, in alignment with the RSPG Master Plan framework. Participating organizations must clearly develop their own annual action plans, specifying key elements such as target areas, methods and procedures, and management arrangements—particularly the persons responsible for implementation and the required budget. RSPG then supports these annual action plans/projects under the Master Plan in submitting them to relevant funding sources.
Project Outputs Under the Royal Initiative
1 Jan 2020
A knowledge-sharing activity among Nakhon Phanom University researchers, teachers from Nong Du Border Patrol Police School, local herbal wisdom holders, and representatives of the Nong Du community.
6 Sep 2021
The Plant Genetic Conservation Project under the Royal Initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (RSPG) was initiated in 1960, following the royal initiative of His Majesty the King to survey, collect, cultivate, and conserve rare and endangered plant species. Later, in 1992, the project continued to expand. Nevertheless, the utilization of community forest resources must follow the principle of wise use, with appropriate conservation that considers carrying capacity. Careless use may disrupt the natural balance. In this academic service activity, research was integrated to study and collect plant species, develop a database of forest plant resources, and create guidelines for using plant resources in community forests. Information system technology was also applied to identify the locations of plants within the community forest. The study area was the community forest near the Ban Nong Du Border Patrol Police School, within Wat Pa Phatthanachit Community Forest, Ban Nong Du, Nai Subdistrict, Phon Sawan District, Nakhon Phanom Province. All sectors participated in this project to promote sustainable use of community forest resources and to further develop research alongside academic services.
4 Sep 2024
The Nakhon Phanom RSPG Coordination Center participated in a meeting on operational guidelines for the RSPG Coordination Centers in Northeastern Thailand on 30 August 2024. Mr. Pornchai Chutamat, Deputy Director of the Plant Genetic Conservation Project under the Royal Initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (RSPG), chaired the meeting and invited representatives of RSPG coordination centers to discuss approaches for driving operations in the Northeast region. The RSPG Plant Genetic Conservation Coordination Center at Nakhon Phanom University therefore appointed Mr. Jarinthon Khotphrom, Deputy Director of the Research and Development Institute, as its representative to attend this meeting.
13 Aug 2024
A knowledge-sharing seminar on thematic network operations under the Plant Genetic Conservation Project under the Royal Initiative (RSPG) for the Upper Northeastern Network was held on 8–9 August 2024 at Udon Thani Rajabhat University, Udon Thani Province. Assistant Professor Dr. Kanlaya Mikhama, Director of the Research and Development Institute, assigned Mr. Jarinthon Khotphrom, Deputy Director of the Research and Development Institute, along with staff members, to attend the seminar to exchange experiences on implementing the Royal Initiative with 14 network institutions in the Upper Northeast. Special lectures included: driving collaborative implementation across the network and supporting local resource base activities and school botanical garden projects in target areas, delivered by Dr. Piyarut Parinyapong Charoensap, Assistant Director of RSPG; and guidelines for assessing an organization’s carbon footprint, presented by speakers from the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (TGO). Participants also shared progress on establishing the RSPG Coordination Center at Nakhon Phanom University for the year 2024.
19 Dec 2024
Action Plan Workshop for the RSPG Project, Nakhon Phanom University, was held on 19 December 2024 at the Solar Energy Research Demonstration Building, Research and Development Institute, Nakhon Phanom University. The Institute organized a workshop to develop the action plan for the Plant Genetic Conservation Project under the Royal Initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (RSPG) at Nakhon Phanom University. Professor Dr. Thawatchai Supadit, Acting President of Nakhon Phanom University, delivered the opening remarks and outlined the drive for preparing the RSPG action plan, as well as the operations of the RSPG Coordination Center–NPU and the RSPG–NPU project. The workshop was honored by Dr. Piyarut Parinyapong Charoensap, Assistant Director of RSPG and Secretary of the RSPG Committee, Bureau of the Royal Household, who served as a guest speaker and shared knowledge on “Guidelines for Developing the Action Plan and Operational Roles under the RSPG Coordination Center–NPU.” The RSPG–NPU operational steering subcommittee also reviewed local resources to build understanding and highlight the importance of plant genetic resources in Nakhon Phanom and nearby areas, including: (1) Makor / Makko (local variety), (2) Samo Thai, and (3) Masang.
