Wetland

The area of Mahidol University, Salaya is generally low plain. It was former a rice field and water lily pond. Two original and natural wetlands within Mahidol, Salaya are preserved and developed. The first one is located in the north of the Population and Social Research Institute, and the second one is located in the south of Sireeruckhachati Nature Learning Park, serving as flood plain in wet seasons and dries out in dry seasons. Wetland biodiversity is found there with large and bush flora lushing the area along with swamps and marches. Aquatic plants are generally found; cyperus, typha, reeds, etc. Plants like Water fern, water lettuce, and wolffia globose are found in shallow area which helps support biodiversity of plenty of animals ranging from invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, small mammals, and aquatic animals. They are also sanctuaries for a number of migrated and protected birds that cannot be found in cities such as whistling duck, little grebe, coucal, march sandpiper, purple swamphen, brown-headed gulls, whiskered tern, little cormorant, purple heron, great white heron, cattle egret, little heron, open-billed stork, racket-tailed treepie, hair-crested drongo, Asian golden weaver, white-throated kingfisher, green-billed malkoha, pied fantail, etc.
ecosystem
Flora and fauna living in the wetlands are valuable resources in terms of recreation, leisure, nature trail studies, bird behavior study, and natural classroom for practical study of many organizations such as the Faculty of Science, Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, and the International Institute, etc., by being their teaching aids for topics related to natural ecosystem, environmental sciences, botany, and zoology. Moreover, the biodiversity in the area is conducive for undergraduate and graduate researches, and even for lecturers and personnel.
The university realizes the importance of the ecosystem in both wetlands. Therefore, the University Master Plan 2008 has protected both wetlands as “natural conservation areas” for learning activities, original wetland ecosystem conservation, and to promote related environment in the areas by prohibiting land use for other purposes, as well as activities that affect environmental quality of land use to support the Sustainable Development Goals -SDGs, SDG6: Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG13: Climate Action, and SDG15: Life on Land.