h i g h l i g h t s• A geographic approach helps in a holistic understanding of peri-urban food systems.• Food-related activities occurred at multiple spatial scales.• Wet markets served as a hub and spread across wider areas than supermarkets.• An increase in wet markets and supermarkets was associated with land use change.• Connection between local farmers and nearby wet markets was limited. a b s t r a c tWe applied a geographic approach to the analysis of current food-related behaviors in peri-urban Bangkok, Thailand, to better understand potential for building a local food system for sustainable periurban agriculture during a period of rapid urbanization. We addressed three main working questions:(1) Do traditional wet markets keep functioning as an important hub for vegetable and fruit food systems under the influence of modern supermarkets? (2) How "local" are the current food-related behaviors of multiple actors? (3) How do the distributions of food-related actors and their environments change in this period of rapid urbanization in peri-urban areas? We combined field based interviews of multiple actors, including farming and non-farming households, wet market retailers, and food shop owners with a GIS analysis of food-related activities and land use changes. We found that the traditional food system played an important role as both a food source for households and a selling destination for farmers. Wet market, a hub in traditional food system, spread across peri-urban areas and kept increasing under urbanization. There was, however, little connection between farmers and nearby wet markets in the same district and it constricted positive feedbacks between producers and consumers in peri-urban areas. Promoting communication between farmers and nearby retailers will contribute to better governance of a local food system and subsequent long-term conservation of peri-urban farmlands.

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This study examined the spatial relationships between various types of wetland and the distribution of Asian openbills (Anastomus oscitans) as an indicator species in a peri-urban industrial area of Bangkok. We (1) mapped the study area by using a time series of aerial photographs combined with field validations, (2) conducted a 2-year line census of Asian openbills in the field, (3) interviewed local farmers and residents about Asian openbill populations and spatial distributions, and (4) conducted an overlay analysis to statistically identify land-use factors related to spatiotemporal changes in the Asian openbill population and distribution. We found that the number of ponds increased from 1980 to 1999 and then decreased from 1999 to 2010, but the remaining ponds were relatively temporally stable in their numbers and volumes. Paddy fields were primarily replaced by aquaculture ponds, and excavated soil was used as fill in adjoining built-up areas. The number of coconut, banana, mango and other trees planted around the ponds increased during the period, providing Asian openbill habitat. The openbills fed in the remaining paddy fields, and the simultaneous existence of various rice cultivation stages in the area provided a stable year-round source of food. Overall, the results indicated that this expanding urban-rural mosaic landscape could include further spatial distribution of Asian openbills in the future. This study of Asian openbills reveals just one example of the ecosystem services provided by developments creating pond-fill landscapes, and the methods used may be applicable in other similar continental delta regions.

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