“Best urban oasis.” That’s how TIME magazine once described Bang Kachao. This Orchard Tradition in Bangkachao sits in a unique place. Bang Kachao is an artificial island. It is formed by a bend in the Chao Phraya River. A canal at its western end completes the island. This “green lung” of Bangkok is a world away from the urban sprawl.
Bang Kachao covers 16 square kilometers. That is about 12000 rai. Historically, it was mainly agricultural land. Mangrove forests and wetlands made the land fertile. Farming and fishing communities thrived here.
In the 1780s, marine authorities cut a small canal. This shortened sailing time by 18km. The canal was later dammed. It released salty seawater into the Chao Phraya. This damaged plant and marine life. But the idea of Bang Kachao as an island took root.
King Bhumibol designated Bang Kachao a conserved green space in 1977. Today, six governmental sub-districts control it. The National Environmental Quality Act in 1995 further protected Bang Kachao. This act recognized its environmental importance. It signaled the need for preservation.
The first city plan in 2001 restricted development. A 2005 plan allowed some development. It limited developments to 200 square meters. A 2019 environmental control law restricted construction. It banned new commercial properties. It also restricted buildings on state-owned land. It limited building heights.
Despite these efforts, Bang Kachao faces challenges. Rapid urbanization pollutes the Chao Phraya River. Illegal logging threatens mangrove forests. But collaboration continues. Government entities, non-profit organizations, and local communities are involved. They address ongoing threats to Bang Kachao’s conservation.
Bangkok Inner Orchard was a cultural landscape. It dates back to the Ayutthaya period. Thai literature describes it as a place for premium fruit. Old maps reveal the orchard’s location. It sits along the Chao Phraya riverbank. Most of it lies on the river’s western bank. The maps show an expansion of orchard areas in 1959 and 2000.
The old maps show a compartmentalized pattern. It is called “Khanat.” Ditches and dikes formed an irrigation system. Inscriptions and photographs identify vegetation. Various fruit trees grow with betel nut. Coconut and sugar palm trees are also present.
Urbanization has affected the inner orchard. New orchard areas have increased. But some older orchards have been encroached upon. They are fragmented. They are vulnerable to urbanization. This Orchard Tradition in Bangkachao remains a vital green space. It balances development and conservation.