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Announcements
Bang Kachao is a small leaf-shaped peninsula surrounded by the meandering Chao Phraya River. It is a part of Phra Pradaeng district in Samut Prakan province.
Yet, physically, it is located near important Bangkok districts like Yannawa, Klong Toey, Phra Khanong, and Bang Na. Situated on the southern edge of the Thai capital, it covers about 12,000 rai or 2,000 hectares and is mostly a mix of agricultural and residential land with a population of less than 50,000 people, and much more green space compared to a similar-sized area on the Bangkok side.
It is dubbed as Bangkok’s “green lung” and was named Asia’s “best urban oasis” by Time magazine in 2006.
The rural atmosphere, abundant green space, and proximity to central Bangkok have made Bang Kachao a popular spot for nature lovers and cyclists. The area is also a target of developers leading to land use conflicts between commercial developers and environmental conservation groups. Past efforts to turn Bang Kachao into a conservation zone have not achieved much success so far. In 2019, the government enacted legislation for the restoration of Bang Kachao as a protected natural environment.
The International Research Associate for Happy Societies (IRAH) recently received support from the Swedish government through the Stockholm Environment Institute’s Sustainable Mekong Research Network (SUMERNET) programme in implementing a six-month project on creating “Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue in Addressing Community-based Water Management Problems in Bang Kachao green space”.
Read full article at the Bangkok Post.
Programme / SUMERNET brings together research and policy partners to engage with water insecurity in the Mekong Region.
Feature / A novel study by SEI researchers unveils the psychophysiological responses to walking in the cities of Nakuru, Kenya and Udon Thani, Thailand.
Journal article / Researchers analysed the mental and physical responses of people walking in urban settings in cities in Kenya and Thailand, with unexpected results.
SEI brief / This brief examines the relationship between air-pollution exposure, socio-economic status, and working conditions in Bangkok; it urges related policy changes.
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