Controversial fig tree in Chiang Mai finally moved

The Highway Department in Chiang Mai province relocated a century-old fig tree today, which has been at the centre of a controversy for years.

The removal of the tree, which was located in the middle of a highway in Muang district, was ordered by the Chiang Mai Administrative Court on July 2.

The Highway Department began digging around the tree’s roots and preparing it for relocation in September, before the order expired on October 2.

The tree will be replanted in front of Chiang Mai's museum.

The tree, which had been growing near the Rinkam intersection in Muang district for over a century, stood in an area where a highway was subsequently constructed around it, resulting in a narrowing of the road.

In 2018, nearby residents called for its relocation, citing the unusually narrow road and the increased risk of accidents. They also argued that the large tree posed a hazard were it to collapse.

The site had also become a place for dumping garbage and a gathering spot for undesirable activities.

At the time, the Committee for the Protection of Mae Ping and its Environment, along with a road safety support group, filed a petition with the National Human Rights Commission and the Chiang Mai Highway Office to prevent any removal, relocation or felling of the tree.