More trees for Bangkok, city’s arborist says a “green future” will take time

More trees will be planted throughout Bangkok as part of the city’s master plan “Green Bangkok 2030.” While in western countries, eco-friendly master plans are driven by science, Thailand has spiritual influences that also come into play.

Photos and news of big trees being cut down are often shared on social media. Some people in Thailand believe spirits inhabit some trees. They often wrap the trees in strips of fabric and make offerings.

30 year old Walailuk Puriyakorn, an arborist under the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Environment Department, says it will take time for new trees to grow and develop sustainable green areas.

Walailuk cares for the city’s aging trees and does “surgery,” like filling the trunks of century-old tamarind trees with polyurethane to protect the trees from disease and pollution. Some trees stood since the reign of King Rama V and need constant care, she says.

She says the cities will have to improve the practices of taking care of big trees on the streets. Trees in the city also have problems growing due to the urban environment, she says. Utility lines often run underneath and the roots do not have room to grow.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post