LettersA greener Bangkok must also be fairer

As a regular visitor to the city, I have witnessed many of the changes. Benjakitti Forest Park is undoubtedly one of the city’s great successes. The transformation of industrial land into wetlands and woodlands has given Bangkok a new breathing space. The upgraded walkways, pocket parks and greener streets have also made the city noticeably more pleasant to explore on foot.

Bangkok has a strong culture of outdoor activities. The expansion of accessible green spaces seems to encourage even more people to reclaim public space for recreation. Every morning and evening, parks fill with runners, cyclists and aerobics groups.

However, Bangkok remains one of Southeast Asia’s most unequal cities. The contrast between luxury towers and informal settlements is highly visible. This raises the question of whether the benefits of greening are reaching all residents equally.

One concern is green gentrification. Major parks often increase nearby property values, attracting new investment while making neighbourhoods less affordable for lower-income residents. Benjakitti’s success may have environmental benefits, but it is reasonable to ask who gains from rising land values around Bangkok’s most desirable green spaces and whether that also limits access to some green spaces for vulnerable communities.