Mae Hia City and reduction of carbon content Part 1: Mae Hia, two sides, houses, green spaces and people

Through the efforts of citizens and Mae Hia Municipality, together with academic support budget provided by the Area Development Capital Administration and Management Unit (TASC), Mae Hia is being developed as a green and low-carbon city through the development of mechanisms and business models that facilitate per area investment. In striving towards a livable low-carbon city, Mae Hia Municipality hopes that participatory use of academic data, analysis and program development will lead to action that helps strengthen the potential to solve issues and develop the environment around Mae Hia.

Initially, baseline data was studied, processed and synthesized using Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques, utilizing land-use data from 2018 to 2022. Traffic sources and density, one of the main determinants of local carbon emissions, abundance and coverage of plant life in the area, surface temperature, together with social data, such as elderly population density in Mae Hia Municipality, are synthesized to create a data set that will help determine the design of future plans.

Area characteristics

The overall area of Mae Hia Municipality, covering approximately 8,454.27 rai (2022 data), can be divided into two sides. First, the green area, for recreation and education, sits to the west of the irrigation canal. This area contains Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Royal Park Rajapruek, Chiang Mai Night Safari, and Chiang Mai University (Mae Hia), all of which are under government supervision. Second, the urban area, stretching from the east of the irrigation canal to Mae Hia Municipality, Village No. 7, Tambon Mai Patthana, accounts for 49% of green space and around 51% of residential area, homes, shops and buildings.

Regarding future trends, based on changing land use when comparing historical data from 2018 to 2022, agricultural areas have experienced the most change, together with decreased proportion of landfill area due to transformation into urban, village and commercial zones.

People of Mae Hia 

Statistical data from Mae Hia Municipality indicates that, between the years 2011 – 2021, the municipal population remained relatively stable, with an average total population of around 19,000 people, consisting of an average of 8,600 males and 10,300 females. When considered according to criteria set by the World Health Organization (WHO), which defines an aging society as one in which the elderly (aged 60 years and above) form 20% or more of the total population, Mae Hia is becoming an aging society due to lower young and working-age populations compared with elderly population. In addition, a clear trend is that of greater proportions of working-age people entering old age, caused by a significant decrease in the younger population.

Regarding distribution of the elderly population, it was found that all are concentrated in urban areas, villages and commercial areas, especially on the eastern side of the Mae Hia Municipality area.

Green space for the Mae Hia people

Considering spatial data of green areas, living patterns, and population distribution, it is evident that urban phenomenon on both sides of Mae Hia have advantages and disadvantages with respect to supporting the quality of life of Mae Hia residents.

Advantages – local green areas and large recreation areas in close proximity, less than 15 minutes travel time, considered “easy access”. Also in the area are facilities and spaces conducive to activities for improving health for many generations – considered a strong asset of the city that should be promoted further.

Disadvantages – regarding access to green areas in the eastern residential/commercial area, there is a small proportion of green space and no room for further expansion of green or public space in the future. Therefore, easy access to quality green space is reliant on the western area, and thus dependent on travel by car, due to the conditions imposed by the main thoroughfares of Mae Hia City, namely large roads and super-highways. Travel must therefore be made by car due to suitability, safety and lack of public transportation, thereby increasing energy consumption and carbon emissions, and negatively affecting air quality of the area as a whole.