The Administrative Court has been petitioned to order the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) and construction giant Italian-Thai Development Plc (ITD) to suspend their move to cut roadside trees to make room for the construction of 11 electric train projects in Bangkok.
The petition was lodged on Monday by Anti-Global Warming Association president Srisuwan Janya, who represents a network that includes the Thailand Urban Tree Network, Big Trees, Chatuchak Model, Kasetsart University's Association for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Club, as well as Bangkok Sabai Walk.
The call was made after 14 large trees outside Kasetsart University in Bang Khen district were found to have had their tops chopped off, a move the Chatuchak district office said was undertaken without the correct permits. It reportedly occurred on the night of March 2.
Photos showing the disfigured trees have been widely shared on social media, stoking criticism over the authorities' handling of roadside trees.
The district office submitted a complaint against ITD Plc to Bang Khen police station on March 4. According to the office, the trees were lopped back by ITD, which has been contracted to build the Green Line electric rail extension linking Mor Chit, Saphan Mai and Kukot.
According to the environmental campaigners, the Thailand Urban Tree Network complained about a similar practice to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) in January, which prompted the arrangement of training sessions on proper tree removal for building contractors.
However, ITD was found to have used the wrong method for cutting the trees down to size in front of Kasetsart University. The group said this shows there is no standard guideline being applied by the construction firms and the MRTA regarding how to care for or remove healthy trees.
Mr Srisuwan said many thousands of trees could be cut down or completely removed along the 11 electric rail routes in the capital if measures are not put in place to protect them.
Some of the trees along the route have already been damaged and it is not clear if they will survive the construction of the electric train projects, he said.
"If nothing is done, the people of Bangkok will suffer a significant loss," he added.
He said Thailand should follow other countries that strive to conserve large trees.