The Mangrove Teens of Thailand provide their teaspoon of change in a world that suffers from a seemingly endless battle against climate change.
By: Vianca 11.1
An image of the mangrove forest of Pran Buri Forest Park in Hua Hin, Thailand
Mangroves, a tropical shrub or tree that tends to grow in saline water and dense abodes. Normally identified via their eerie, web-like roots (which are seen arching above water level), these trees are one of the earth’s natural carbon dioxide absorbers, consuming the global warming inducer and storing it within their rich soils. Estimations show that these very trees store up to 3 to 4 times more CO2 than tropical rainforests, with recent studies also indicating that mangrove soil could possibly hold around 6.4 billion metric tons of carbon.
Although mangroves are key players in the battle against climate change, being carbon-scrubbers are not their only skills. Mangrove forests are also capable of stabilizing the coastline, playing a large role in the Earth’s natural defense against coastal erosions, floods and other environmental disasters. They provide a biodiverse ecosystem within both their branches and the roots beneath them, allowing for shrimps, crabs, mollusks and even a range of birds to feel safe and live in close proximity within their complex root/branch systems.
Despite the multitude of benefits, mangroves provide to the human race, excuses are still being used to justify the destruction of these groves. Since 1980, an estimate of 20-35% of mangrove forests were lost globally. In Thailand alone, 56% of the nation’s mangrove forests were lost due to the increasing demand for both salt and shrimp, causing for the destruction of multiple groves to provide more land for the expansion of such farms. With the deforestation of mangrove forests being responsible for 10% of carbon-dioxide emissions, was the decision to cut them down really worth it?
“Mangrove trees grow on the coast of Thailand, which means that they are less likely to be cut down. If we’re making a difference, we want it to matter, to be long term,” a quote from the official Mangrove Teen’s website states.
Mangrove Teens is a youth-led, non-profit organization, founded in September of 2020 by Napatr (Aimie) Wipulakorn, which focuses on the germination and plantation of mangrove trees within Thailand. With a reach of over 20 schools nationwide, the organization aims to plant 250k mangrove seeds throughout Thailand by the 5th of June 2022. Within each of the schools, Mangrove Teens chooses a representative that is deemed capable of spreading the project’s notions and aims, hoping to gain a wide-spread audience that will eventually allow them to reach their goal. The organization has already completed two successful plantations since the beginning of this year, one in April of 2021 and another in May of the same year. Unfortunately, the team’s plans of a June plantation had been postponed due to the untimely increase of COVID cases this year, which had pushed for the event to be held in the month of October.
As of September 2021, the organization was able to complete 5,600 out of their desired 250,000 trees whilst successfully accumulating 24,076 THB through donations made through their website.
“Most of us in this school are privileged students who live privileged lives, and we should take advantage of that and make a change in our environment and the community. It is an opportunity to give back to Mother Nature what we have destroyed directly and indirectly,” states Zia, an ambassador of Mangrove Teens, in regard to the benefits of contributing to the cause.
Although there is a multitude of information said about the beneficiaries of mangroves to the environment and explanations as to why donations or contributions would help the Earth in countless ways, listening is not the same as hearing. To hear is involuntary, effortless and even accidental in ways whereas to listen is to be focused, voluntary and therefore intentional. For there to be any impact made, contributions must be made. Let it be through spreading awareness about the organization’s aims to those capable of donating or even by personally offering those donations.
An example of a contribution that could be made is through participating in the upcoming Online Art Auction held by the Mangrove Teens Team in Regents, an event being held from the 29th to the 31st of October.
“It helps to bring recognition to our art students and develop creativity,” says Eun Jeong (EJ), a member of Mangrove Teens, in a recent interview, “upon developing new skills and acquiring knowledge, students would gain a sense of accomplishment as well.”
It is an opportunity for students to partake in an enjoyable activity whilst voluntarily supporting a charity effort that will benefit the future living conditions and the further development of the Earth. It’s a chance to finally give Mother Nature back what we have destroyed.
If you feel as though you would like to participate in the auction or would like any further information in regard to the project and donations, please do not hesitate to contact ziafrancescatinoco_j@regents-pattaya.co.th through teams or the Instagram account @risp_mangroveteens.
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