Visitors use the skywalk to appreciate the forest.
It is probably a concrete jungle that the people of Bangkok feel most at home with. But that’s no longer the case specifically in the eastern part of the city, thanks to Pa Nai Krung — literally forest inside the city — which has recently become an environmental landmark in the area.
Located on Sukhaphiban 2 Road, only 15 minutes drive from Suvarnabhumi International Airport, the 12 rai, man-made forest is the brainchild of PTT. Since 1994, the oil and gas company has committed to afforesting more than a million rai across the country. Though this project was completed, the company realised that Bangkok is still short of green areas.
“After all this time we have finally come to realise that we have neglected things that are important to us. So, we decided to grow a forest in the city,” said Prasert Salinla-Umpai, PTT executive vice-president, corporate communications and social responsibility.
Before the project started, the land was a garbage dump. But after being developed, it has been divided into three sections — 75% forest, 10% water and 15% land.
Pa Nai Krung is not as dense or green as a forest should be, but it’s still in the early planting stage.
“We’ve disorderly planted a variety of trees mixing between fast- and slow-growing plants that provides shade to replicate a real forest. When they are all mature, there will be trees, shrubs and herbs all over Pa Nai Krung,” Prasert added.
Upon entering Pa Nai Krung, visitors walk through a rammed earthen wall, which gives the place a natural look and functions as a heat insulator. Through the wall, a permanent exhibition on seeds from different trees are on display.
Then guests will be welcomed to an area screening a short movie showing how Bangkok in the past was connected with the environment as shown through several district names. For example, the word Bangkok derives from makok (olive) signifying the area abounded with olive trees. Another example is Bang Kae, which was once full of agasta trees.
The following room adorned is a forest atmosphere screens another short movie narrating how trees and forests benefit the ecological system. Right after the movie, the screen will be turned into a door leading visitors to experience Pa Nai Krung.
The concept of the forest is not just a place where people come and spend their time doing recreational activities, but it’s more like a place to learn how forests can benefit people and where they can learn to embrace nature in their life.
In afforesting, PTT applies a theory by a Japanese botanist and expert in plant ecology, Akira Miyawaki. Miyawaki believes that the best way is building a forest of native trees and let them grow naturally as the best management is no management.
But different level of plants, including trees, shrubs and herbs are all needed for diversity.
Visitors can stroll on a skywalk where they get a chance to see plants from a treetop view. Along the way, signs are put up explaining different trees in different plant communities such as waterfall plants, palm plants, evergreen forests and riparian forests. However, if strolling the place on one’s own, it is not easy to distinguish one from the others. The skywalk leads to a tower which gives visitors a 360-degree bird’s eye view of the forest. On the tower,, visitors can also see the transition between greenery and surrounding areas, as well as view Suvarnabhumi airport. On the rooftop of the exhibition building is a garden where different kinds of flowers are planted. This part is designed to help blend the building with forest and to insulate it.
Before the visit ends, visitors can re-enter the building to study relationships between people and forests, afforesting techniques and different theories, and much more. Information is available on digital screens.
“We hope that the project will provide an opportunity for people to realise how important forests are,” said Prasert. “We also hope that it will help raise awareness to preserve forests, as well as encourage people to plant more trees.”
The seed exhibition.
The viewing tower.
Pa Nai Krung is divided into three sections — 75% forest, 10% water and 15% land.
This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.