While some campaign for increased green spaces in Bangkok, others are organizing to protect what there is.

The Bang Krajao conservation park, a lush expanse of relatively undeveloped forest famous for its cycling paths, is threatened by encroaching urban sprawl, according to community activists who today met to call for its protection.

“Every week we see more green spaces with trees cut down, and land plots filled with earth for building,” said Paul Mueller, a cyclist and resident of the 1,000-strong Khung Ban Krajao island community.

Something of a land-grab has been underway since authorities quietly removed the area’s protected legal status earlier this year.

In February 2014, authorities in Samut Prakan province announced the 10,000 rai (16sq km)  of lush green space – which is home to  dozens of species of trees and tropical birds, including the electric-blue kingfisher – would no longer be considered a conservation space.

“The change in the city planning law had no proper public consultation process,” said Saranarat “Oy” Kanjanavanit, Secretary-General of Thailand's Green World Foundation, explaining that generally 90 days of public process are required before any such change in the law is possible.

Bang Krajao is known to many by as “the lungs of Bangkok,” due to its vital location between Samut Prakan and Bangkok, according to the Big Trees Project. The easterly direction of the winds which blow nine months of the year send fresh, clean air into smoggy Bangkok.

Nearly 100 community members, lawyers, conservationists, politicians and cyclists came together at a press conference held today by the Big Trees Project and Green World Foundation to bring attention to the issue, discuss the changes in the area’s legal status and consider how to move forward.

“This is the first step, to challenge the legal process,” Saranarat said. “It's going to be a long journey.”

Photo: Martin Abbiati