Forest fire risk to persist into next year due to El Niño

The El Niño weather phenomenon this year will not only prolong the dry season in Thailand, but will also fuel forest fires in many parts of the country throughout the rainy season and into next year, Athapol Charoenshunsa, chief of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, said today.

Citing the effects of El Niño, he disclosed that 149,359 hotspots were recorded between October 1 last year and May 5 this year, up by 30,000 year-on-year, with most of the fires reported in conservation forests (61,716), national forest reserves (41,114) and areas outside forests (45,821).

Among national parks, the five with the highest incidence of forest fires are Srinagarind Dam National Park (2,357), Sri Nan National Park (1,800), Nam Pai National Park (1,555), Mae Wong National Park (1,519) and Salween National Park (1,493).

Athapol estimates that more than 1.4 million hectares of forest could be damaged by fires this year, higher than last year but lower than the average of the past three years.

He expressed concern over the prospect of reduced rainfall this year as a direct result of El Niño, adding that forests which remain intact are still at risk due to the accumulation of dry leaves, which serve as ideal fuel for forest fires.

Regarding forest fires in peat swamp forests, Athapol said fires began in April, earlier than usual due to the extreme heat.

Citing the Phru Daeng peat swamp forest, he said a total of 124 hotspots have been reported since April and the fires are now under control, thanks to support from the army, which dispatched a helicopter to assist firefighting efforts.