The arboretum, which covers an area of 28 hectares (175 rai), reflects both the commitment of AIT and its partners to environmental awareness and protection, as well as the proactive approach adopted by the Royal Thai Government to process-oriented natural resources and environmental management.

An arboretum is a botanical park or garden that features collections of plants and trees. The Queen Sirikit Arboretum Garden at AIT showcases carefully selected and labeled specimens of plants and trees collected from the local region and from around the world. All of these are being arranged and maintained in a series of interesting and educational collections. For example, a grove highlighting the trees of Thailand will contain 76 different species of trees representing the 76 provinces of Thailand ; nearby, another area will be devoted to the Nine Royal Holy Trees of Thailand.

Now marking its first year after its launch on 7 August 2003 , the number of trees in the Arboretum project has grown to reach a total of 1,772 trees. The Arboretum's specimens are labeled and have been carefully arranged in a series of collections that includes:

• the Thai collection of royal trees and a tree show
• an arboretum garden
• an international collection of trees
• a botanical garden
• an evergreen forest grove as well as a mixed deciduous forest grove
• a medicinal herb garden
• a nursery for Thai orchids, and
• a show featuring a range of specimens in the lotus family

None of this would have been possible without the support of AIT's many partners. AIT would especially like to thank the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for their generous support.

Once completely developed, the arboretum will serve not only as a living museum of plants from Thailand , the region and the world demonstrating the splendor of the natural world, but also as a vivid reminder for its visitors of the dedication of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit to environmental protection and the conservation of natural resources.