BANGKOK. - July 25, 2008 - PATT (Plant A Tree Today) Foundation's forest restoration project at a wildlife rehabilitation centre in Phetchaburi, Thailand, will undergo its first tree planting event. School children, monks, governmental officers, local villagers, PATT and wildlife centre staff will all get their hands dirty and help plant over 2,500 trees during the first of many planned planting events to be held at this site.

The restored forest area that will eventuate from the newly planted trees will provide habitat for local wildlife and animals being rehabilitated at the adjacent wildlife centre. The site will also be used as an educational resource for visiting school groups and other interested parties.

The 2,500 trees were grown onsite in a purpose built nursery and form part of a long term project funded by UAP Ltd, a prominent UK based specialist supplier of Decorative Door Hardware and related products. UAP has committed to offsetting its carbon footprint by funding the planting of 50,000 trees in this 3 year project with PATT.

The project began mid 2007 with research on the local forest ecology and identification of important species which when planted will assist natural regeneration of the local forest. A phenology trail has been established to aid seed collection year round and collect data on potential framework species. The forest is a seasonally dry lowland deciduous tropical forest.

The Plant-A-Tree-Today Foundation, or PATT, is a non profit that implements reforestation programmes, provides environmental education and tackles climate change by restoring natural forests. PATT is a UK registered charity with an operational office in Thailand.

A forest, degraded by selective logging, is being restored by planting essential native tree species to facilitate the natural regeneration of the forest. The aim is to use the forest as a gibbon rehabilitation area providing semi-natural conditions in the last step before the animals are released back into the wild. A tree nursery has already been established to initiate and expand the project over time and gain experience and research data to assist with propagation of the key tree species.

The project will provide a natural habitat for rehabilitating wildlife and will create environmental education opportunities. The forest will also serve to restore ecosystem stability to the area and protect the watershed.

You can find out more about the project here: www.plant-a-tree-today.org/uap

About the PATT Foundation:

PATT was formed in 2005 with a mission to react to problems caused by the massive and increasing levels of deforestation worldwide, raise awareness and educate children about environmental issues and the role forests play in our daily lives, take action against climate change, and to PLANT MORE TREES. PATT is a UK registered charity with an operational office in Bangkok, Thailand.

PATT Foundation Ltd

PATT Foundation Ltd

The Plant-A-Tree-Today (PATT) Foundation was formed in 2005 with its mission to react to problems caused by the massive and increasing levels of deforestation worldwide, raise awareness of environmental issues and the role forests play, take action against climate change, educate children on these issues and to PLANT MORE TREES. We are a UK registered Charity with an operational office in Bangkok, Thailand. We currently work within Asia to raise awareness of global environmental issues, campaign for better environmental practices, take action against climate change, implement reforestation projects as well as provide funding for partner projects, set up school tree nurseries and provide environmental education, and fund community development projects in rural communities centered on tree planting and reforestation. PATT is overseen by a Board of Trustees consisting of 3 individuals from different countries, backgrounds, and experiences. All are leaders in their field with success in the corporate world as well as the non-profit environment, education, development, and social responsibility sectors.

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