It’s been just over a year since we introduced our ambitious ‘One Booking One Tree’ initiative to help rebuild and sustain the vital coastal ecosystems in and around Khao Lak. The initiative saw us commit to planting a minimum of one mangrove or sea almond tree per booking, for every future stay with us. This year our team dug deep – quite literally – and we couldn’t be prouder to share the results with you…
In 2023, with the trees planted as part of the ‘One Booking One Tree’ pledge added to existing coastal rehabilitation projects we already support, we have enabled the planting of 21,200 trees as of the 30th of November 2023 and are on target to reach our goal of 25,000 trees by the end of the year. We’ve worked in partnership with the National Parks of Phang Nga and some fantastic organisations to do this, including the Mangrove Forest Planting Project in Baan Nam Kem, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, and the Takuapa Local Government, alongside working directly with the Ban Nam Khem and Bang Nai Si communities.
Why is coastal rehabilitation so important to us?
Khao Lak’s spectacular coastline is one of the things that makes The Sarojin so special, so we must play our part in maintaining and enriching it. The coast is home to an abundance of rich and diverse wildlife and is also vital to our local fishing communities that rely on the bounty of the waters for their livelihood and food. The importance of this is not lost on us. Over the years, we’ve earned ourselves a reputation for our ongoing commitment to minimising the impact our guests have on the environment and ensuring that the local community benefits from our presence as much as possible.
Coastal rehabilitation projects, and the planting of trees such as mangrove and sea almond, help us to achieve this ambition and protect our shores. The regrowth shields the coastline slowing down erosion, acts as a natural barrier against storms and floods and provides shelter for countless marine species including juvenile fish. Enriching our coastline also encourages eco-tourism, providing a rich environment for activities such as kayaking and bird-watching tours, which are popular with our guests.
How can you get involved?
Every guest at The Sarojin is offered the chance to take part in our ongoing ‘Sarojin Cares’ activities during their stay, which include our tree planting initiatives. You can roll up your sleeves and join our team on one of our regular planting excursions, or we can organise visits to local projects for you to see first-hand the difference coastal rehabilitation is making. You could also join an excursion to explore the coastal region further, such as our Glimpse of Local Life tour – this offers a range of activities that provide an authentic insight into the local culture and way of life in our surrounding rural and fishing communities. Alternatively, you could make use of our complimentary hire kayaks to explore the shores yourself.
What’s next?
In celebration of the success of the ‘One Booking One Tree’ initiative in its first year, we’ve updated our pledge to include a commitment to plant one tree for every guest at weddings held in our resort. Regardless of whether wedding guests choose to stay at The Sarojin or not, we will plant a tree for each guest, and all in attendance will be welcome to join us on planting day – something we think will make our guests’ special day even more memorable!
For more information about The Sarojin and its community initiatives, please visit:
https://www.sarojin.com/en/khao-lak-resort-sarojin/community-and-environment/
