King Bhumibol Adulyadej (King Rama IX) foresaw the significance of plant genetic conservation prior to a recognition of the terms “Biological Diversity” and “Conservation” in Thailand. During the trip to Klai Kang Won Palace, A. Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province in 1960, he passed through A. Tha Yang, Phetchaburi Province and noticed many Yang Na trees (Dipterocarpus alatus). Therefore, he had royal words to collect the seeds to plant at Phra Tamnak Piam Suk, Klai Kang Won Palace, and grow the seedlings at Royal Chitralada Projects to study. In 1985, King Rama IX gave a royal word to conserve jackfruit tress around the Grand Palace and initiated the plant conservation project in the palaces by tissue culture. Later in 1986, he had the royal idea to conserve and breed rattan palms and arrange the herbal garden in Royal Chitralada Projects area.
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chari Sirindhorn carried on the plant conservation project by having the royal idea and asked Lord Chamberlain to carry out plant conservation project in June 1992, when the seed gene bank was formed, and study the preservation of non-industrial crops under the royal thought framework.
In 1993, Mr. Sujin Phunikom, the Assistant Subdistrict Headman of Salui and Tha Sae District, Chumporn Province, and his group, cooperated with the Director of Ultra Products Co., Ltd. and the agriculturists in Chumporn Province to establish plant conservation project at the public area located at Moo.6, Salui District (presently Moo. 5 and 6, Salui District, and Moo.4 and 7, Song Phi Nong District). At the same time, the Royal Chitralada Projects was looking for the area to set up the Plant Genetic Conservation Project Under The Royal Initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chari Sirindhorn.
Subsequently, Royal Chitralada Projects represented by Professor Prachid Wamanont (the Consultant) and the team met with Chumporn Governor (Mr. Prayoon Promphan) to discuss about the project. The first five years, the project was named “Plant Conservation and Development Project Under The Royal Initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chari Sirindhorn, Chumporn Province”. Chumporn Provincial Agricultural Extension proposed the project for the approval from Chumporn Governor and submit the project documents to the Director of Royal Chitralada Projects to respectfully inform to Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chari Sirindhorn on 26 April 1993. Moreover, Plant Conservation and Development Project was integrated with the royal plant genetic conservation project, which Dr. Pisit Wora-urai was a Chairman. The executives meeting on 9 July 1997 had the resolution to change the project’s name from “Plant Conservation and Development Project Under The Royal Initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chari Sirindhorn, Chumporn Province” to “Plant Genetic Conservation Project Under The Royal Initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chari Sirindhorn”

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