Thailand and other members of the United Nations have joined the 2016 World Soil Day celebration on the occasion of the birthday of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 5 December.

 

The World Soil Day event at the United Nations Headquarters in New York aims to raise awareness on the importance of soil and promote sustainable soil management, as well as to support the implementation of the 2016 International Year of Pulses.

 

Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has graciously conferred a video message on the occasion of the World Soil Day celebration 2016, which provides an opportunity to pay tribute to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and his royal duties in the field of development, especially on the conservation of soil.

 

Following the 17th World Congress of Soil Science in Bangkok in 2002, executives and members of the International Union of Soil Sciences recognized the importance of the work of His Majesty the late King in the field of soil resources development, in particular agriculture development.

 

Then the International Union of Soil Sciences made a resolution in 2002 to propose 5 December, the birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol, as World Soil Day, to honor His Majesty for his promotion of soil science and soil resource conservation.

 

Later, on 16 April 2012, the Chairman of the International Union of Soil Sciences, in his audience with His Majesty the King, presented the Humanitarian Soil Scientist award to His Majesty, honoring him as the first recipient of the award in the world for his dedication to soil resource management. The United Nations General Assembly in 2013 designated 5 December World Soil Day. It also declared 2015 the International Year of Soils.

 

His Majesty King Bhumibol’s concepts in soil resource development and examples of his solutions to soil problems are evident in all six Royal Development Study Centers, established in all regions of Thailand.

 

For example, he initiated the klaeng din project at the Pikun Thong Royal Development Study Center in Narathiwat, where he found a solution to soil acidity. The theory of klaeng din is an innovative project for the first-ever application of technology to lessen soil acidity in swamp areas in tropical regions.

 

Literally meaning "playing a trick on soil,” klaeng din is a soil treatment process. It exemplifies His Majesty’s ingenuity as a true innovator, by integrating innovation in technology with proper management in order to solve the problem of soil acidity. His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej extended his initiative on soil resource management to the development and conservation of soil for agriculture.