Chuan Leakpai displayed photos in parliament exposing government agencies’ poor work in pruning highway roadside trees—cutting off branches completely, leaving only short stumps. He criticized the agencies for carelessly cutting trees as if “executing” them and recommended setting budgets to train and employ arborists for proper pruning. He emphasized that trees are “national heritage.”Tags: [tree pruning, government agencies, national heritage, arboriculture, environmental policy]
On 8 Sep 2026 at the parliament, Chuan Leakpai, party-list MP from the Democrat Party, spoke during the budget debate for fiscal year 2027, proposing amendments concerning the Ministry of Transport's budget. He displayed photos of highway roadside trees cut down to bare stumps without branches. He clarified his amendment was unrelated to corruption in procurement at the Ministry of Transport but aimed to be a voice for living things considered national assets that also experience birth, aging, illness, and death but have no voting rights or voice. The photos showed a nationwide phenomenon of destructive tree cutting, which is not maintenance but resembles execution. Thailand lies on the equator and faces global warming; large trees are vital for oxygen release, landscape enhancement, and reducing PM 2.5 dust. However, responsible government agencies treat trees as maintenance burdens and fear liability from accidents, so they simply cut branches off or fell trees to evade responsibility. He had written to the government since June but received no action. Reviewing the Ministry of Transport’s budget of over 160 billion baht, despite a 626 million baht cut, no funds were allocated to nationwide roadside tree care.Tags: [parliament, budget debate, Ministry of Transport, environmental concerns, tree care, public assets]
He acknowledged that highway, rural road, and irrigation departments lack budgets for tree care, leading some areas to allow locals to cut trees for personal use until branches are gone. He cited Trang Province as a case study where private organizations and businesses, such as Toyota, Honda, and Wattanapradet Hospital, help maintain median strip trees. A fund was established for tree care, which he helped initiate with a 100,000 baht donation. This fund has grown to nearly 500,000 baht, saving public funds substantially, though coverage remains incomplete.Tags: [budget shortfall, community involvement, public-private partnership, Trang Province, tree maintenance fund]
He proposed allocating budgets properly for nationwide tree maintenance and conservation in line with arboriculture principles to responsible agencies, including the Department of Highways, Department of Rural Roads, Department of Irrigation, and local authorities. Importantly, he urged a ban on cutting branches to stumps or destructive pruning practices currently used. Instead, trained arborists knowledgeable about trees should manage the care. He emphasized that these trees are invaluable national assets beyond monetary valuation, said Chuan.Tags: [budget proposal, sustainable arboriculture, government agencies, tree conservation, national assets]