Defence Ministry agrees not to fell big trees along Klong Lod

The ministry had earlier announced a plan to work with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to change the landscape along the canal by removing old big trees and replacing them with Jackfruit trees. The announcement triggered outcries from tree lovers and environmental groups.
On Monday, the ministry met with representatives of environmental groups led by Chorphaka Wiriyanon, co-founder of Trees in Cities Network. The meeting was also joined by representatives of BMA's Environment Department, Phra Nakhon district office, the Fine Arts Department, the Forestry Department and the Metropolitan Electricity Authority.
The meeting agreed to conserve the large old trees along the canal and that measures would be studied to learn how to do so.
The meeting also agreed to find a way for state agencies and private groups to join hands to trim and improve trees along the royal procession route for the upcoming coronation ceremony in May.
Chorphaka said the meeting also agreed in principle to have the private sector join hands with government agencies to take care of trees in the area.
She said experts from the Thai Arboriculture Association, the Association of Landscape Architects, and the BIG Trees Project will on March 13 start trimming old trees in the Klong Lod area to improve the landscape.
The experts will also trim the tree roots to prevent them from affecting the structure of nearby buildings.
Chorphaka said another meeting will be held soon to select the tree species for replanting in the area to replace those that have died.
The permanent secretary for Defence who chaired the meeting also agreed to take charge of conserving the aged ironwood trees in front of Wat Ratchabophit.
She said the ironwood trees there are believed to be the oldest still living in Bangkok, and are known to have been growing since the reign of King Rama III.