The Second TCP Spirit : Doctor Tree in Chiang Mai, a train journey to keep trees healthy.
Have you ever wondered how can metropolis people live with and take care of huge trees over the next several decades?
To explore this question, the TCP Group and some 100 volunteers participated ‘the Second TCP Spirit: Doctor Tree in Chiang Mai’ between 27-28 October 2019. Riding a train to the world-famous tourist destination province, the session offered an insight in the Lanna capital’s century-long forest history ranged from local flora, culture and identities. TCP Spirit Ambassador Alex Rendell, who was famous for his green mindset, joined the trip. The lectures of the program were led by Banchong Somboonchai, a lecturer at the Faculty of Architecture and Environmental Design, Maejo University, and the local civil sector and environmental activist body ‘Green, Beauty, Scented’.
The opening activity was the lecture on ‘Doctor Tree’ who took care and protected huge trees. The second session was carried out on a tram as it toured the city’s five historical places. Led by ‘Green Beauty and Scented’, the trip dropped by at the 150-year-old rain tree at the Gym Khana club, the 100-year Hopea odorata, or ta-khian, at the 16th Region Preserved Site Administration Center, the tamarind aging over 200 years at Tamarind Village, the 200-year rain tree at the library of Ecole Française d’extrême-orient; and lastly, the rubber tree at What Chedi Luang, the landmark tree of Chiang Mai.
1.The 150-year-old rain tree at the Gym Khana club
2.The 100-year Hopea odorata, or ta-khian, at the 16th Region Preserved Site Administration Center
3.The tamarind aging over 200 years at Tamarind Village
4.The 200-year rain tree at the library of Ecole Française d’extrême-orient
5.The rubber tree at What Chedi Luang, the landmark tree of Chiang Mai
Alongside Banchong Somboonchai, local respected figures like Po Oui, Mae Out and local citizen, the TCP Spirit volunteers examined resin trees, added air bubble into roots and replace died tree with 49 new ones so that this time-honored road continued its charm.
The second day saw the lecture on the Maejo University’ finest ecosystem and a trip to the Huay Jo reservoir and a royally-initiated project to conserve and improve a headwater by King Bhumibol. On the same day, the participants attended an arborist class called ‘Climb, Cut and Prone’ of huge trees at Maejo University. It demonstrated how to tie a knot, climb a tree and trim a huge branch. The volunteers also tried climbing on huge trees and mastered appropriate trimming skills.
To mark the end of the program, the TCP Spirit showed its social and green philosophy by donating huge tree equipment to the Doctor Tree Volunteer Group of Maejo University and Green, Beauty, Scented. The items were expected to reinforce an endeavor to keep huge trees in urban areas in good shapes for years to come.
