Basic Study on Plastic Debris Deposit in the Mangrove Area
Khiri Reach was able to raise funding to support the project Basic Study on Plastic Debris Deposit in the Mangrove Area conducted by researchers and students from Kasetsart University by providing the essential equipment to aid/facilitate the team.
This project addresses environmental issues related to plastic waste while ensuring community involvement throughout the process. In the final stage, the results of the study will be shared with the community and the government.
Their activity routinely collects data on the types and amounts of plastic debris found in mangrove areas of the Kampuan Canal, Suksamran District, Ranong Province, especially along the canal. They aim to gather information on plastic debris, investigate the sources of plastic debris, and develop a system to manage plastic pollution occurring in the mangrove area, thereby reducing impacts on marine animals. Their objective is to establish guidelines for reducing plastic debris deposition in the mangrove ecosystem of the Kampuan Canal, Suksamran District, Ranong Province.
Their ultimate goal is to maintain food safety standards and promote ecotourism activities in the mangrove areas of Thailand, starting with this pilot study area.
**This project is funded by Sawadee Reizen**
UPDATE
In February 2024, The team at the Andaman Coastal Research Station for Development received the equipment sponsored by Sawadee Reizen. This equipment will aid them in conducting field surveys along the canal using kayaks as vehicles. Sawadee Reizen also supports the equipment to facilitate the process of media production and knowledge sharing through various media channels.
On April 24th to 26th, 2024, our Khiri Reach Ambassador and Khiri Reach coordinator visited the Andaman Coastal Research Station for Development in Ranong. The team at the research center gave the Khiri Reach team a tour of their facilities, including the hatchery, nursery, and laboratories. Our Ambassadors also had the opportunity to try kayaking and joining the team in collecting trash, learning the routes for trash collection for the project supported by Sawadee Reizen. On the last day, we also had a chance to release some aquatic animals that were hatched and nursed by the research center back into their natural habitat.
On December 16th 2024, Khiri Reach coordinator, project leader and Sawasdee’s sustainability coordinator were met together to share the project progress.
On March 21st 2025, the project has been finalize with the finding of foam was one of the most plastic found from the canal along with Plastic Bag and Clear Plastic Bottle. With the study period from February 2024 to January 2025. The researcher team has collected a total of 19,984 pieces of debris were collected, with a combined weight of approximately 515 kilograms. The waste was classified into 30 categories. The quantity and weight of debris, ranked from highest to lowest, are as follows:
Most of the waste originates from daily consumer products and materials used in fishing gear production.
The project result is planned to be shared and discussed with the local community to address the problem.
Update: Sharing Knowledge with Local Schools
As part of our community engagement, On July, project leader, K.Worawit and team shared research findings with 42 students from Suksamran Ratsrangsan and Damrongsart Wittaya Schools through activities integrated into their Ocean and Marine Science curriculum. Students learned that plastic waste makes up over 89% of debris in Kamphuan Canal, with foam, plastic bags, and clear bottles being the most common. The sessions covered the environmental and socio-economic impacts of plastic waste and emphasized the importance of proper disposal using the four-bin color-coded system to support recycling, reduce costs, and protect ecosystems.
