TRANG, Oct 15 (TNA) – Authorities stepped up conservation measures at the Hat Chao Mai National Park and Mu Ko Libong Reserve in the southern province as they have been recognized as a new ASEAN Heritage Park.
Narong Kong-iad, chief of the Hat Chao Mai National Park, inspected the installation of boundary buoys to protect seagrass and other coastal resources from fishing boats at Hat Pak Meng beach. It was among protective measures being implemented following the ASEAN Heritage Park status.
Last week the 15th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment in Cambodia approved the Hat Chao Mai National Park and Mu Ko Libong Reserve as the 45th ASEAN Heritage Park for being the habitats of endangered wildlife including dugongs, sea turtles, dolphins and birds. They cover a combined area of about 448 square kilometres.
“The ASEAN Heritage Park is the pride of Trang people… We are seriously protecting its biodiversity. Local communities have been told that the areas are the ASEAN heritage that deserves effective conservation,” Mr Narong said.
River basins, river estuaries and coasts contributed to the biodiversity of the areas, he said.
