A municipality in Phitsanulok is trying a novel idea to find a new home for trees which were going to be sacrificed for a road development project.
Bang Rakam municipality has launched a new project called "Finding a New Home for Street Trees" after an expressway enlarging scheme mandated the removal of hundreds of trees.
So far, 34 trees out of a total of 150 have been transplanted near a lake in Bueng Takeng Public Park, a 1,500-rai park.
These trees once stood along the 1065 route running between Phitsanulok and Kamphaeng Phet.
"We are not only finding a new home for these trees but telling their story using QR code technology. Visitors can scan the QR code attached to each tree to read information about it. So, our 'Finding a New Home for Street Trees' programme is both educational and environmentally friendly," Wiboon Tangkasemwiboon, mayor of Bang Rakam municipality, told the Bangkok Post.
The scheme is a collaboration between the municipality and a private sector contractor, Tipco Asphalt. The collaboration will bring a total of 150 trees to the park and makes pioneering use of technology to teach visitors about their past.
Modern heritage: Each tree is given a QR code which enables visitors to learn more about its history and background.
The trees consist mainly of Kair Na (Cana trees) and Pradu (Burma Paduak) which are over five years old. "Finding a New Home for Street Trees" is one of several initiatives run by the municipality to develop the park and make it attractive for tourism and recreational purposes. Last year, the municipality received a 110 million-baht budget from the Interior Ministry to develop the park into a tourism site. This year, it hopes to receive an additional 200 million baht for the project.
The budget, according to Mayor Wiboon, has been used for developing the embankment around Bueng Takreng Lake, a massive natural water resource which is also used for flood drainage purposes. The lake has also served as a habitat for migrating birds such as cranes.
"We want to see visitors come to this park for camping and to enjoy the scenic view," said Mayor Wiboon, adding that part of the green area around the lake will be developed into a camping ground.
He said the municipality would also create bicycle lanes and a jogging track paved with asphalt.