Chulabhorn Pattana VI Project was
conceived in December 1991 after Royal
Forest Department had offered another
degraded forest area (Sai Ho degraded forest
and Donna degraded forest) in Nong Jik,
Pattani to Chulabhorn Research Institute for
reforestation, environmental and natural
resources management program.
Donna degraded forest area has been
destroyed to a large extent and was left
unoccupied. The reason for this is that the
whole area is in close proximity to the coast
line, approximately 4 kilometres from the sea.
During the high tide certain parts of the area
are slightly submerged in seawater, hence,
making the soil quality high in salinity and
low in acidity (pH 3.5-4.5) and thus making
reforestation impossible.
At present, the area is dominated by
milk wood (Melaleuca leucadendra), an acidsoil-resistance tree species, while the ground
floor is occupied by water grasses and weeds.
From the initial survey and the
feasibility study conducted by Chulabhorn
Research Institute’s team of experts including
those from the various government
departments such as Royal Forest Department
and Department of Fisheries, it was concluded
that this area could be utilized for Snake
Skinned Gourani (Trichogaster pectoralis)
farming. Gourani is a freshwater fish which
can tolerate high acidity water and could
possibly be raised in the project area.
Chulabhorn Research Institute has
initiated experiment trial of raising Gourani in
milk wood stand. The result shown a positive
trend of the experiment.
The technique was introduced to local
people in the surrounding area which also
face a problem of high acid soil. They are
able to utilize the neglect land and turn into
benefit.