Suranaree University of Technology (SUT), in collaboration with Khao Yai National Park, Klong Pla Kang community, Wang Mee Subdistrict Administration Organization, and the Outdoor Education School, with the support of the Canadian Embassy through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), organized the handover ceremony for the "Development of Khao Yai Biodiversity & Conservation Learning and Training Program for Visitors and Guides at Klong Plakang Thailand-Canada Friendship Trail."

The ceremony was honored by the presence of H.E. Ms. Ping Kitnikone, Canadian Ambassador to Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos; Mr. Somkiat Wiriyakunanan, Deputy Governor of Nakhon Ratchasima Province; Ms. Yameera Nanla, Head of Khao Yai National Park Management Zone 2; and Dr. Mullika Sungsanit, Vice Rector for Engagement, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship at SUT, who served as the event’s presiding officials. Other distinguished attendees included heads of government and private sector agencies, local community representatives, such as Mr. Chonbanlue Wattanaphan, from the Tourism and Sports for Nakhon Ratchasima Province; Ms. Rungthip Bukkhunthod, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Nakhon Ratchasima Office; Mr. Thammathat Thongsamrong, District Chief of Wang Nam Khiao; Dr. Phruet Kerdchuchuen, Khao Yai National Park Executive Committee; and Ms. Pannachana Wattanasathien, President of the Khao Yai Tourism Association. The event also saw participation from local community enterprises, and the university, taking place on June 10, 2025, at Khao Yai National Park Protective Unit 4 (Klong Plakang), Wang Nam Khiao District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province.

This handover ceremony marked the continuation of the development of the Klong Plakang Thailand-Canada Friendship Trail, a 2-kilometer eco-smart trekking route launched to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Thai-Canadian relations, launched in July 2023. As Thailand’s first Smart Trail, the project serves as a model for sustainable eco-tourism development through community engagement, involving Khao Yai National Park, the private sector (Outdoor Education), and Suranaree University of Technology.

SUT and Canadian Embassy Celebrate Handover of Khao Yai Biodiversity Learning Program and  Klong Plakang Thailand-Canada Friendship Trail

The program’s second phase focuses on enhancing learning and conservation initiatives by training eco-tour guides through the Founding Guide Training Program: Outdoor Education – Khao Yai to Kaeng Yao Route. So far, four cohorts of students have been trained, learning about plant species and wildlife while also developing skills in birdwatching and wildlife observation using binoculars and telescopes. Other aspects include tourism management training, community-based eco-tourism service development, and exhibitions showcasing the biodiversity of local flora and fauna at Khao Yai National Park Protective Unit 4 (Klong Plakang). Since its launch, the trail has welcomed over 2,000 visitors, generating income for families in four nearby villages while fostering biodiversity awareness among locals and youth, ensuring long-term conservation and sustainable living.

The Khao Yai Biodiversity and Conservation Learning and Training Program, together with the Klong Plakang Thailand-Canada Friendship Trail, stands as a lasting symbol of the enduring partnership between Canada and Thailand. As the 65th anniversary of bilateral relations approaches in 2026, Ambassador Ms. Ping Kitnikone marked this milestone by planting a rosewood tree at Khao Yai National Park Protective Unit 4 (Klong Plakang), honoring the deep-rooted friendship between the two nations and the ever-strengthening people-to-people connections. This rosewood tree not only commemorates over six decades of bilateral friendship but also represents a shared commitment to safeguarding nature and combating biodiversity loss in Thailand and beyond.

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