Measures to Combat Forest Fires and Haze Pollution

(30/01/2013)

The Government is stepping up efforts to fight forest fires and haze pollution by applying stricter law enforcement, especially during the critical period from January to April. The Cabinet has approved measures to prevent forest fires and smoke haze for 2013 and instructed relevant agencies to work out an action plan to deal with the problem, with the participation of local people. Emphasis is placed on nine provinces in the North – Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Lampang, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son, Nan, Phrae, Phayao, and Tak. The measures in 2013 have been switched from the focus on “burning control” to “no burning.” The National Water Resources and Flood Policy Committee will handle the problem based on the “single command” system, while provincial governors will be responsible for the “forward command,” based on the area approach. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has set the period from 21 January to 10 April 2013 to prohibit burning in all forest areas. Campaigns have also been launched to encourage local people to stop all kinds of burning in the forest. Thailand will seek cooperation from Laos and Myanmar in controlling forest fires along border areas. It will also join other ASEAN countries in enhancing capacity-building in an attempt to mitigate transboundary haze pollution. According to the Ministry of Public Health, haze pollution can cause such health hazards as respiratory problems and heart, eye, and skin diseases. Mobile units have been prepared to provide immediate health care to local residents in the nine provinces. The Department of Land Development is launching a campaign for agricultural leftovers to be plowed under, instead of being burned. The campaign is a new measure to combat the smoke haze problem, while increasing soil fertility. Around 540,000 tons of agricultural leftovers are found in Chiang Mai a year from about 1.8 million rai, or 720,000 acres, of farmland. The Department will cooperate with the Ministry of Energy to provide farmers with knowledge about how to turn weed into biogas and electricity, so that it will not be burned and create haze pollution. Apart from hot dry weather, the burning of solid waste and agricultural materials in open areas has been cited as a major cause of forest fires. Another cause involves the slash-and-burn farming technique employed by farmers to clear land in forested areas. Meanwhile, the Royal Rainmaking Operations Center in the North is launching its operations to reduce smoke haze in the northern region, especially Chiang Mai province. The rainmaking operations will also help ease the drought situation during the dry season, bring moisture to forest areas, and reduce the haze of harmful smoke particles.