HAPPENING

Ms. Disara Changcharoen, Senior Marketing Manager of Jungceylon Shopping Center, Patong, Phuket, led a team of employees from Phuket Square Co., Ltd. in a volunteer activity titled “Building Protective Enclosures for Seagrass Restoration.” The initiative aims to conserve an important food source for dugongs. The project also provided a donation of 30,000 THB to support the procurement of equipment for the activity. The donation was received by Assoc. Prof. Saisanit Pongsuwan, Head of Administration at the Coordinating Center for the Royal Initiative Project on Plant Genetic Conservation (RSPG), Phuket Rajabhat University, together with representatives from the Phuket Marine Resources Conservation Center, at Tha La Beach, Pa Klok Subdistrict, Thalang District, Phuket Province.

Assoc. Prof. Saisanit Pongsuwan stated that the dugong population is currently declining and spreading over a wider area, placing them in a critical or near-extinction status. One of the major issues is the shortage of seagrass, which is the dugong’s primary food source.

The construction of large protective enclosures around seagrass areas has shown positive results. The seagrass has been observed to flower, increase in length, and expand outward beyond the enclosures, while also regenerating within the protected areas. This indicates that the approach is effective in addressing the problem. Dugongs play an important role in maintaining marine ecosystem balance and are also an indicator of the richness of Thailand’s marine environment.

Jungceylon Shopping Center has continuously supported conservation and restoration efforts for dugongs and seagrass beds. These efforts include participating in public consultations on protection measures, providing financial support and essential supplies, and improving facilities such as drinking water provision and restroom renovations. Employee volunteers have also joined on-site activities at Tha La Beach to construct seagrass protection enclosures in Phuket.

In June 2025, the center will also host the exhibition “Art from Waste for Dugongs” in celebration of World Environment Day and World Oceans Day, held annually at The Bay Arena activity area, Jungceylon Shopping Center, Patong, Phuket.