Green Zone Community Dynamics of the Bang Nam Pheung Community in Samut Prakan

Abstract

This study on green zone community dynamics, physical, economic, social and cultural changes and adaptations of the Bang Nam Pheung community in Samut Prakan, was aimed at examining the physical, economic, social and cultural changes of the community in Bang Nam Pheung, Samut Prakan. The researcher used a qualitative research methodology by observing and using in-depth instruments in the study with 28 persons involved in three groups.  The findings reveal that Bang Nam Pheung is part of the Kung Bang Krachao area or Koh Krapoh Moo. In the past, this entire area was made up of fruit orchards. In 1977, the government’s policy was to conserve the Kung Bang Krachao area by purchasing the area from inhabitants in the community. The Bang Nam Pheung community covers an area of 103 rai and was made a rural and agricultural conservation area from that time onward. Concerning the community’s physical changes, settling models were found to have changed from settling alongside canals to alongside roads with less use of agricultural land and more use of residential areas. In the area of economic changes, the people in the community in the past cultivated orchards, while current community members have changed to work as company employees and vendors. Production has changed from using traditional methods to using technology and distribution changed from trading by water to land. With regard to social changes, more households have changed from extended families to nuclear families. In the area of community strength, social groupings in the past were not clearly organized and now have a clearer model. Concerning cultural changes, housing and residence characteristics in the past were found to be Thai-style wooden houses, while most modern housing is now half-cement and half-wooden buildings.

                  According to the findings from application of geographic information systems on the issue of land utilization models, the area is mostly agricultural land in 1991 with 614.66 rai (45.75% of the area). In 2017, most of the area was vacant (684.40 rai (50.94% of the area). With regard to changes in land utilization from 1991 to 2017, only agricultural land showed a reduction in area size by 284.19 rai. Vacant spaces have had the greatest changes in land utilization with an increase of 140.32 rai. On the issue of future land utilization outlook from 2027 to 2037, residential areas are expected have the greatest increase in land utilization by 107.50 rai while agricultural areas are expected to have the greatest reduction by 0.04 rai.