What is happening in already large,

What is happening in already large, urbanized cities in the Mekong Region?
Thailand’s urbanization has been dominated by the capital of the country, Bangkok, which constitutes nearly 80% of the total urbanized area. Nowadays, the world has at least 28 cities that are considered “Mega-Cities” with a population of at least 10 million, and Bangkok is also quickly reaching that threshold.

The city’s rapid expansion is leading to significant changes in the ecological landscape and land use within and surrounding the city. Areas whose populations were mainly rural 10 to 20 years ago have been amalgamated into the city, and the lifestyle of the people there has had to shift away from their rural origins.

The Khlong Saen Saep, for example, is a canal located in Bangkok that connects the Chao Phraya River to Prachin Buri and Chachoengsao provinces. This canal was constructed in 1837 on the order of King Rama III. It is also of cultural significance as evidenced by the many Chinese, Buddhist and Muslim temples constructed along the canal route.

In recent years, an express boat service has started operation on the canal in order to provide an inexpensive alternative to avoid traffic congestion in Bangkok. This was an important development project because it connected Pom Prap Sattru Phai and Bang Kapi districts. However, there were still many families living along the canal that relied on the canal as a contribution to their food security.

One of the inhabitants of the Khlong Saen Saep told me: “…I have lived all of my life along the Khlong Saen Saep. Around 10 years ago, all of my neighbors and I used to fish in the canal for feeding our families. Since the express boat service started, the fish decreased and when we were able to catch one, it smelled and tasted as the oil from the boat. We stopped fishing here, and I am sure you cannot find any more fish in the canal…” He seemed nostalgic, and we could see the dusty fishing nets that serve now only as a decoration in his house.