What We Do
Big Trees is
an attempt of a group of ordinary people working with various organizations in campaigns for social change to raise awareness about the value of green spaces and to preserve the quality of our environment.
We provide relevant information via social media, organize activities and set up pilot projects as examples for the society. In addition, we capture various interesting environmental issues to create a trend that affects the mainstream media.
We show the society that preserving, rehabilitating, and developing green spaces and environment in a sustainable way can actually be done. We help people realize that development can occur without destruction of nature.
We started with small activities and projects which helped us succeed. This brought about positive effects on the projects that followed. In this way, we have gained more support, trust and credibility. This has turned out to be a better cycle.
What does Big Trees do?
We raise awareness of people in the society to appreciate the value of big trees and green areas and help to conserve them. Moreover, we encourage people to increasingly and intensely participate in developing their environment and society.
Who is Big Trees?
In 2010, Big Trees was founded by a group of ordinary people in collaboration with a large number of individuals and organizations. We rely on knowledge, skills, and expertise of each party involved. We work with various organizations such as Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, National Municipal League of Thailand, Department of Landscape Architecture of Chulalongkorn University, Siam Commercial Bank, PTT Public Company Limited, Somdet Chaopraya Institute of Psychiatry, Green World Foundation, Sueb Nakhasathien Foundation, etc.
How does Big Trees work?
We have been supported by people, agencies and the media in campaigns to protect green spaces and environment through our requests for cooperation. This is an approach approved by the general public.
Our Facebook members (www.facebook.com/Big TreesProject) have steadily increased each year. Currently, 150,163 people have joined our group. Most of them are educated, highly environmentally conscious and supportive.
Furthermore, the media have helped disseminate our information, resulting in a broader impact on the society. Persuading all agencies to actually get involved has proved to bring about concrete outcomes. This is more effective than just campaigning through social media or criticism.
What is the status of Big Trees?
Big Trees is not a foundation or a charitable organization. We are a group of ordinary people who plan to develop our organization into a social enterprise that will be able to continually increase the proportion of income to the point where we can support our own activities and reduce the proportion of financial support from other agencies.
Our Accomplishments
|
Year |
Types |
Details |
Allies |
|
2011 |
Activities |
- Exploring large trees in different areas of Bangkok: Phahon Yothin area, Phra Nakhon district, Khlong San district, and Thonburi - Tree planting activity, Bike & Walk Rally, at the opening of Phayathai Pirom Park |
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Ratchathewi District Office, and Siam Commercial Bank |
|
2011 |
Project |
100 Bangkok Big Trees Contest: Collecting information and photos of big trees from all over Bangkok through social media |
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Siam Commercial Bank, and Komchadluek Newspaper |
|
2012 |
Activities |
- Klongsan Area Exhibition by students of the Department of Landscape Architecture - "Telling stories about the big trees" - Commemoration of the poet, Angkarn Kanlayanapong: The 5th "Sewansa Sansara Tassanajorn" |
Quiet Bangkok, Bangkok Sketchers, Society for the Conservation of National Treasure, and Urban Design and Development Center |
|
2012 |
Project |
"Green Khlong San": Planting trees at Royal Forest Park at the foot of Phra Pok Klao Bridge. 400 people participated in this project and 2,000 trees were planted. |
Khlong San District, Siam Commercial Bank, and Princess Mother Memorial Park |
|
Year |
Types |
Details |
Allies |
|
2013 |
Activities |
- "Dream Garden, Art Under the Trees" - Tree Detectives - Green Miles Project: Front Lawns Can be Greener - Sketches of Khlong San Area (Theme: Red Roofs) - My Tree Drawings - Public Space Design in Charoen Nakhon, Soi 9 - "Pluk Pan Plean" (Planting, Biking, and Changing) with the 4 candidates for Bangkok governor - Earth Day 2013 with Top Pipat - "Eat Green, Live Green" Festival at the Institute of Psychiatry - Tree planting activity at Phichaiyat Temple (more than 3,000 trees) - Putting up 100 tree signs in Lumpini Park |
Khun Siriwit from Little Trees, Klongsan District, Joy Rak Club, Ekkamai International School, Panya Prateep School, Bang Lamphu Community, Bangkok Bicycle Campaign, Green World Foundation, Thammasat University, Top Pipat, Institute of Psychiatry, Green Market Network, Tetra Pak Thailand, Siam Commercial Bank, Association of Landscape Architects, and P Landscape Co., Ltd. |
|
2013 |
Projects |
- Founding 60 public parks dedicated to HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. Initially, we planned to bring together interested parties within the year 2015. - "Green Hospital in the City": We jointly established the Green City Council to increase green areas in Bangkok. |
Mr. Anan Panyarachun, Chulalongkorn Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Department of Landscape Architecture, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, and other public and private sectors |
|
2014 |
Activities |
- “Tree Detectives and Art under the Trees” in collaboration with the Kadi Jeen, Khlong San, and Phra Phuttha Yodfa Bridge Project - “Little Dreams at Talat Noi” in the new community park of Talat Noi (Khao Lam Road) : 4 academic discussions on caring for big trees in the city |
Princess Mother Memorial Park Community and Princess Mother Memorial Park, Bangkok Chinatown World Heritage, Open Box Company, Ltd., Prof. Decha Boonkham, Mr. Tharadol Thanduan, and Sansiri Public Company, Ltd. |
|
2014 |
Projects |
- ASA CHANGE at the Architect Expo' 57: Volunteers joined together to design green spaces in Talat Noi area and set up a network "We love Bang Krachao" - A campaign on urban planning, community enterprises, and green areas: Establishing a tree school or Urban Tree Care and organizing Thailand's first arborist training to take care of large trees by a new generation of the arborist team trained in 2014 - Phuanchaona Ordinary Partnership to help farmers sell environmentally friendly organic rice - Rukkakorn Ordinary Partnership to provide tree trimming services in accordance with academic disciplines to set a good example for the public |
Association of Siamese Architects, Community 6, Bang Kachao Subdistrict, Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Architecture Chulalongkorn University, Institute of Psychiatry, Mr. Tharadol Thanduan, PTT Public Company Limited, Khlong San District, Samphanthawong District, Pathum Wan District, Okas Temple in Nakhon Phanom Province, and Chulalongkorn Hospital |
|
2015 |
Activities |
- Ride for Your Rice: A cycling charity event with more than 1,000 participating couples to promote 20 groups of organic farmers at Suvanabhumi Cycle Track - "Pun Pak Mud @ Bang Krachao": exploring the Bang Krachao area and collecting information for sustainable green space conservation by volunteer bikers and 500 Thammasat University's students - Establishing Rak Mai Yai Co., Ltd. to carry out big tree conservation campaigns to increase urban green spaces and collaborate with other urban environmental organization networks. |
Thai Health Promotion Foundation, Premier Company, Bangkok Post Group, Siam Commercial Bank, Organic Farmer Network, Thammasat University, Save Bangkrachao Group, and Rak Khung Bang Krachao Network |
|
2015 |
Projects |
- "Heritage Tree Project": inviting people to find "Trees We Love," resulting in 115 national heritage trees. - "Biking around the City," an environmental campaign through the use of bicycles, consisted of 3 sub-projects, namely, the project to create a park dedicated to Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, "Cycling to Save the World" and "1 Camp, 1 Yard" - Acting as a coordinator in the announcement of Khung Bang Krachao as Environmental Protection Area by 2015 - Participating in the training on pruning and caring for large trees at Nan Hospital, Nan Province. |
Krungthep Turakij Newspaper, Thai Cycling for Health Association, Bangkok Bicycle Campaign, Green Campus Network of Kasetsart University, Silpakorn University, Office of Policy and Planning, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Chaipattana Foundation, Thai Environment Institute, and PTT Public Company Limited |
|
2016 |
Activities |
- Building forest fire lines at Doi Luang, Chiang Dao District, Chiang Mai Province - Organizing Planting, Biking, and Changing to invite cyclists to plant trees at Cherntawan Farm, Chiang Rai Province, together with Phra Mahawutichai Wachiramedhi to raise awareness of caring for green areas. - Collaborating in setting up "100-kilometer Market", a market that supports organic produce, for organic farmers to sell their produce and transfer knowledge about organic farming to interested individuals - Training and participating in a tree pruning operation along the power lines with Bang Sue, Chatuchak and Pom Prap districts. This activity is sponsored by the private sector and people in the area. - Mobilizing volunteers to help take care of tree pruning in public areas in various districts such as Pathumwan, and Bang Rak |
Chiang Dao Youth Camp and Green Peace Cherntawan Farm, Chiang Rai Province, Thai Cycling for Health Association, Bangkok Bicycle Campaign, Green Campus Network, Rukkakorn Social Enterprise CO., LTD., Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Bang Rak District, Pathumwan District, and Metropolitan Electricity Authority |
|
2016 |
Projects |
- Doi Luang Chiang Dao Upstream Forest Reforestation Project, Chiang Dao District, Chiang Mai Province - Training on preserving, pruning and maintaining large trees for officials and people in Bang Kachao - Training on pruning important trees in historical areas, Model area: Somdej Phra Narai National Museum, Muang District, Lopburi Province |
Chiang Dao Youth Camp and Green Peace, Rak Khung Bang Kachao, Royal Forest Department, Somdej Phra Narai National Museum |
|
2017 |
Activities |
- Training volunteers to take care of tamarind trees in the Sanam Luang area (8 sessions, 1 day each): knowledge and practice on tree care in collaboration with BMA, Royal Forest Department, and Volunteers for Dad Center - Growing mangrove palms, "Growing Mangrove Palms so that They Won't Leave Us": restoring the mangrove palm forest ecology in the Khung Bang Kachao area, Samut Prakan Province - Symposium on the anniversary of Thailand Urban Tree Network, “How can Trees and Power Lines Coexist?”: to find solutions to conflict between trees and power lines. Electrical engineering experts, specialists in tree pruning, representatives from Provincial Electricity Authority, Electricity Generating Authority and other related agencies took part in finding solutions and drafting a proposal to submit to the Prime Minister along with King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang. |
Thammasat University, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Volunteers for Dad, Rak Khung Bang Krachao, Bang Krachao Youth Group, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Thailand Urban Tree Network, Provincial Electricity Authority, Electricity Generating Authority, and Viriyah Insurance Company, Limited |
|
2017 |
Projects |
- Training on proper tree pruning for staff at Sukhothai Historical Park - Tree survey & demonstration and a lecture on how to properly prune and care for trees at Bank of Thailand - Training on how to trim trees correctly for interested individuals in Phuket in collaboration with Phuket Rajabhat University and Vajira Hospital in Phuket - Participating in the project "Making Merit by Growing a Forest: Creating a Beautiful World" at Suan Mokkh Bangkok presided by Phra Ajarn Paisal Visalo and Buddhika Network - Jointly organizing a workshop on proper pruning and caring for large trees (6 days per group) with Thammasat University - "Youth Camp to Conserve Khung Bang Kachao,” “Rak Pluak San Project" dedicated to the King Rama IX at Khung Bang Kachao, Phra Pradaeng District, Samut Prakan Province |
Sukhothai Historical Park, Bank of Thailand, Phuket Rajabhat University, Vachira Phuket Hospital, Phra Ajarn Paisan Visalo, volunteer arborists, and Rak Khung Bang Kachao Group |
|
Year |
Types |
Details |
Allies |
|
|
2018 |
Activities |
- A survey of plant species in Bangkok Edge Festival at Museum Siam: We organized a small workshop for interested individuals to explore different aspects of the trees, such as nature of the trunks, leaves, flowers, and fruits, the environment of the trees and symptoms of the trees surveyed to provide basic knowledge of tree surveying and explain about the causes of various abnormalities and how to fix them. More than 30 people joined this activity. - Teaching children to climb trees and learn about tree care at Plearnpattana School: The speakers taught children proper tree climbing for fun and helped them aware of the value of large trees. - TedxChiangMai2018 - A Bird release event at Thammasat University, Rangsit Campus: We organized activity bases to educate students about tree care and maintenance and how to use tools for tree pruning. - “Cultivating mangrove saplings at Khung Bang Kachao”: 15 Big Tree's webpage members and some local youth of Bang Kachao and Khung Bang Kachao volunteers joined and had a lot of fun together in this activity. We planted mangrove forests, using different types of saplings, namely 400 saplings of black mangroves, 200 white beans, 200 tagal mangroves, 100 large-leaved mangroves, 200 small-leaved mangroves, 200 white-flowered prasaks, 100 Siamese rosewoods, 100 Indian laurels, 50 cowas, 50 gold apples - Big Trees’ booth to introduce Big Trees at “People and Forests Fair” at the Bangkok Art Gallery. - Participating in a meeting to discuss ways to promote and develop arboriculture in Thailand: Among the participating organizations were Royal Forest Department. Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, educational institutions and related agencies, 17 in total. 85 people at together attended this meeting. The government agencies, private sectors and educational institutions all agree that trees are important. - Participating in “Eat-Play-Be Kids” (Rainbow Market under the Big Tree) at Bangkok International Preparatory & Secondary School. - "Rak Pluk San, Year 2”: Pluk Tor Term at Khung Bang Kachao Forest Plantation, along Phae Canal, Khung Bang Kachao in Samut Prakan Province - “Planting trees, Planting Dharma,” Visakha Bucha Day 2018 at Floating Island, Lumpini Park |
Museum Siam, BMA, Rajapruek Institute Foundation, Asiaola School, Chao Phraya Hospital, Plearn Pattana School, Volunteer arborists Department of Forestry, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Thammasat University, Rak Khung Bang Kachao, Bangkok Art Gallery The Rainbow Room Foundation, Urban Adventure Thailand, Bangkok International Preparatory & Secondary School and Autism Awareness Thailand, Creative Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai University, and Maejo University |
|
|
2018 |
Projects |
- Workshops on proper pruning and caring for large trees (6 days per group) in collaboration with Thammasat University - Basic arboriculture workshops for BMA officials, at least 6 sessions for 6 district groups from all 50 districts in Bangkok. - Basic arboriculture training in Nakhon Ratchasima Province: Big Trees, Thailand Urban Tree Network, Thammasat University and Volunteer Arborist Network organized a workshop on big tree pruning (for beginning arborists) for the local people free of charge at the forest garden of Dr. Banpot and Dr. Payom Buranasin, MD. - A tree survey project inside Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Historical Park |
BMA, Thammasat University, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Srinakharinwirot University, King Mongkut's University of Technology, Thonburi, Maejo University, Chiang Mai Khew Suay Hom Group, Thai Association of Landscape Architects, PTT Public Company Limited, BKIND Fund, Pim Sai Foundation, Kiatnakin Bank, Thailand Urban Tree Network, Volunteer Arborist Network, Ayutthaya Historical Park, Fine Arts Department, Yang Noeng Municipality, Chiang Mai Province, Khew Suay Hom Group, Silky Saw Thailand |
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