Electricity Generating Public Company Limited or EGCO Group by the Thai Conservation of Forest Foundation (TCOF) unveiled the photo book “The Breath of the Cloud Forest: Doi Inthanon,” featuring a collection of photos that highlight the value and beauty of the watershed forests, rich biodiversity, and wildlife and plant habitat in Doi Inthanon. The photo book also emphasizes TCOF’s belief in “the harmonious coexistence of humans, forests, and wildlife.” Key contributors to the book are two of Thailand’s leading nature photographers – Narong Suwannarong and Tanes Ngamsom – who have worked closely with TCOF for over two years to capture the history of nature and ecosystems in the cloud forests of Doi Inthanon National Park, Chiang Mai.

The main objective of the photo book project is to raise public awareness about the rich and fertile watershed forests and the interconnectedness of all life and biodiversity in these cloud forests, leading to greater love and responsibility to protect nature and promote sustainable tourism. All proceeds from the photo book sales will fund TCOF ’s watershed forest conservation and rehabilitation activities.

Dr. Jiraporn Sirikum, Chairperson of TCOF and President of EGCO Group, said, “Believing that “a good beginning leads to good results,” EGCO Group has operated our electricity and energy-related businesses alongside our commitment to caring for the environment, community, and society. This philosophy has supported mutual growth for the past 33 years. At EGCO Group, we place great importance on the conservation and rehabilitation of natural resources, especially key watershed forests in Thailand. We chose Doi Inthanon as our first environmental conservation project because it is a vital watershed forest located in the highest mountain of Thailand, the origin of life and energy. More importantly, it is a “cloud forest,” home to abundant wildlife, plants, and rich biodiversity.”

EGCO Group first introduced the watershed forest conservation project at Doi Inthanon National Park, Chiang Mai, in 1997. Various initiatives, such as the EGCO Forest Youth Camp, have been introduced “to instill conservation awareness and responsibility” among the general public because the company believes this is an effective path to sustainably maintaining natural resources. Other initiatives include the establishment of TCOF in 2002 as a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the sustainable conservation of the environment and watershed forests where rivers originate.

“For 22 years, TCOF has educated, promoted knowledge, and encouraged participation in natural resource conservation among young people and the general public to build watershed forest conservation alliances. Initiatives like the EGCO Forest Youth Camp, the development of nature trails, and actions as a “linkage chain” aim to ensure “harmonious living among humans, forests, and wildlife.” “The Breath of the Cloud Forest: Doi Inthanon” photo book is our latest initiative, designed to communicate and allow readers to experience the priceless value and beauty of Doi Inthanon, not just as a tourist destination, but as a major watershed and cloud forest that remains home to wildlife, plant species, and rich biodiversity. EGCO Group by TCOF hopes the book will raise awareness and connect distant watershed forests with urban dwellers living downstream. We hope this book will provide a new perspective on Doi Inthanon, encouraging people to embrace nature conservation and participate actively in protecting it, or at the very least, travel responsibly to Doi Inthanon,” said Dr. Jiraporn.
 

Mr. Narong Suwannarong, one of the photographers contributing to “The Breath of the Cloud Forest: Doi Inthanon” photo book, said, “In this photo book, I tell the story through the life and growth of the gorals, a major inhabitant of Doi Inthanon. Along the way, I present the stories of other animals and plant species, such as green-tailed sunbirds, white-handed gibbons, and Fea’s tree frogs, and how they are tightly interconnected in this cloud forest. I want to show everyone that if they visit Doi Inthanon with respect and responsibility towards nature, they can cherish the natural world and witness these animals.”

Mr. Tanes Ngamsom, another photographer contributing to “The Breath of the Cloud Forest: Doi Inthanon” photo book, added, “Spending two years in Doi Inthanon allowed me to witness the changes in the cloud forests. I hope this photo book will change visitors' perceptions of Doi Inthanon—from simply visiting a tourist spot to appreciating, learning, and conserving nature.”

Interested individuals can order “The Breath of the Cloud Forest: Doi Inthanon” photo book for 2,500 baht each at www.facebook.com/thairakpaofficial or through Bangkok Bank account number 229-0-599778-6 (a receipt can be used for tax refund). All proceeds from book sales will support the TCOF’s watershed forest conservation and rehabilitation activities.

To raise awareness of the importance of cloud forests in Doi Inthanon and to introduce the photo book, TCOF also hosts the “The Breath of the Cloud Forest: Doi Inthanon” photo exhibition, showcasing over 50 highlight photos from the book at the Bangkok Art and Culture Center (BACC) from 4 – 16 February 2025, with free admission. Sales of the photo books, programs, and souvenirs will be available throughout the exhibition period. Viewers can also attend talks by conservationists, nature lovers, and travelers, including Dr. Usaradee Phumalee, Dr. Petch Manopawitr, and Miss Jareerat Petsom, among others.

About Thai Conservation of Forest Foundation

The Thai Conservation of Forest Foundation, or Thairakpa Foudation, is a charitable organization established and supported by EGCO Group to promote conservation of Thailand’s natural resources and major watershed forests since 2002. To achieve such a goal, TCOF sets up missions in 3 areas. The first one is to preserve and restore forests in parallel with improving the quality of life of local communities through the “Thairakpa Village” projects, which is in line with the approach “People exit, forests exit.” The foundation has also strengthened community alliances by connecting targeted areas through the “Thairakpa Community Network” to leverage the potential of local communities surrounding watershed forests and related agencies for natural resources conservation. Additionally, TCOF has initiated the “Thairakpa Youth Network” project and the “Nature Trail Improvement and Development” project, aiming to raise awareness among young people and the general public on forest conservation. To continue its commitment to watershed forest conservation and restoration with participation from all sectors, TCOF revealed its target to conserve forests of 100,000 rai and restore degraded forests and improve agricultural systems of 5,000 rai in 3 regions (the North, the South, and the Northeast).

Website: https://thairakpa.org/  
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