Governor Chadchart’s area drive needs to be based on local insight, writes Aspen Anderson
Bangkok is revising its economic technique as global conservation efforts grow under the leadership of Governor Chadchart Sittipunt. Transitioning from the Green Bangkok 2030 program, which was immediately spearheaded by his forebears, the government is now focusing on a bolder climate agenda.
By adding 130 parks and doubling the goal of two million trees planted by 2026, Mr. Chadchart hopes to make Bangkok a” 15-minute city” with accessible green spaces, after Bangkok reached the original goal of one million trees in two years.
” The first thing he did when he came into business was he went to a garden and planted the first tree”, Pornphrom Vikitsreth, the BMA’s commander of sustainability and adviser to the government, said.
Thailand faces major environmental issues, including forest, a sharp decline in wildlife, and increased ground erosion.
Urban areas experience extreme air pollution from traffic jams and industrial pollution, which pose serious health risks to residents. The government’s waste management system is even strained, with rising plastic waste intensifying waste in land and water communities.
Bangkok has one of the smallest per person green areas in Asia and a population of 10 million people. This is a problem that faces being perceived as crowded. Expanding and improving green spots is essential to making the area more habitable in order to charm to expatriates and to compete with neighboring towns like Singapore.
The Bangkok government is now focusing on the” 15-minute area” strategy by creating bag parks in underserved areas to ensure equal clean space access for all people, moving from the Green Bangkok 2030 initiative that was aligned with the Paris Agreement’s emission goals.
” Parks are a smaller purchase with great benefits”, Mr Pornphrom said.
The” 15-minute city” concept aims to ensure that people can move to essential facilities like schools, shops, restaurants, and natural areas within 15 days. In Bangkok, gardens are the major concern.
The city is now giving smaller wallet gardens more priority in order to promote more equal access rather than establishing one or two large gardens annually as it did previously.
According to Mr. Pornphrom, the selection of a new garden area takes time:
Assess the Need: They first do a complete analysis to determine whether a new area is required, with an emphasis on densely populated areas close to community centers.
Engage the Community: After identifying a possible webpage, they set up a group of seats on the area and encourage people to discuss their needs, asking them,” What do you want”?
Design Based on Input: Based on community feedback, they tailor the park’s design to include features such as playgrounds, trails, outdoor gyms, or benches, ensuring the space meets local needs.
” We want to get them to come and be a part of the process from the beginning”, he said. ” And then once the park is open, they feel like they are the owner”.
After the park opens, the work does not end. Regular visitors must help with upkeep and security to keep it up. Mr. Pornphrom hopes that people will consider these parks to be additions to their own backyards.
” We have to be more inventive when we do n’t have the land”, he said.
Finding pocket parks has been challenging, according to Mr. Pornphrom, in a city that is rife with condominiums.
Restoring portions of parking lots, reusing portions of parking lots, and working with local schools to open their grounds to the public after hours have all been solutions.
Trees and green spaces are crucial for physical and mental health, enhancing air quality, aiding in carbon sequestration and drainage, providing shade from heat, and, most importantly, making cities more livable for everyone, Mr Pornphrom said.
A new ordinance introducing 50 arborists to the city has been approved to ensure the survival of trees.
These specialists, known as tree doctors, focus on assessing and maintaining the overall health of trees rather than performing routine maintenance.
The city had just one arborist in 2022, but the current administration has increased this number to 15, with ongoing training and certification efforts to increase the team’s scope.
Mr. Pornphrom claimed that in addition to ensuring the success of these parks, they have set up quality checkers to evaluate the space’s vitality.
” People are very happy they voted for the new governor”, he said. ” They feel more free”.