BMA plan branches out to tree line major streets

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) plans to make the capital greener, street by street, over the next six months.

Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang said yesterday City Hall is launching a tree planting programme along nine major roads with each road having a specific type of tree.

The roads are Sukhumvit, Khumklao, Pracha Ruam Chai, Mit Maitri and Sala Thammasop, Chim Phli, Sam Wa, Kanchanaphisek-Sai 2, and AnamaiNgam Charoen.

The move comes after the BMA earlier resolved to line Srinakarin-Rom Klao road with a total of 1,241 Thongurai (yellow bells) trees.

The BMA is yet to decide which trees will line the other roads and will ask the private sector to contribute.

“We’ll ask the private sector to get behind this initiative by donating trees. Within six months, these tree-lined streets should materialise,” he said.

He said the project is part of the BMA’s effort to create more green spaces and beautify the city as overhead electrical cables are removed along streets and moved underground.

The governor was speaking after presiding over a workshop on arboriculture, the study of trees, for BMA officials to provide better care of more than 3 million trees in the capital.

The BMA currently manages more than 3.2 million big trees, about 140,000 of which are in a poor state and could topple over due to inadequate care and maintenance.

He said the workshop should give City Hall staff greater expertise in looking after trees, how to evaluate their condition and what steps to take to keep them healthy. If left uncared for they can come down in storms.