Increased hotspots signal return of wildfires and airborne pollution

A total of 2,021 hotspots have been detected in 17 northern and western provinces today by a Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) satellite, signalling the return of wildfires and airborne pollution in the north.

According to GISTDA, the provinces with the highest incidence of wildfires are Lampang, Tak, Kanchanaburi, Uttaradit, Phrae, Uthai Thani, Kamphaeng Phet, Phayao, Chiang Mai and Lamphun.

A total of 620 million baht has been allocated from the Central Fund, to be used in coping with forest fires this year, with some of that money used to hire villagers to look after forests in or near their communities and to prevent other villagers from lighting fires, so they can collect forest products at the start of the rainy season.

Panudet Kerdmali, chair of the Sueb Nakhasathian Foundation, said that paying villagers as guardians of forests is nothing new, but it is not a long-term solution.

Panudet Kerdmali, chair of the Sueb Nakhasathian Foundation

Instead of just solving the immediate problem, he said the government should have a proper management strategy, which covers forest burning and control of wildfires with public participation.

Meanwhile, Atthaphon Charoenchansa, director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, said the 620 million baht is split between his department (433 million baht) and the Forest Department (187 million baht).

He stressed the need to recruit villagers to help in preventing and fighting fires in forests in 1,330 vulnerable locations, adding that they will only be employed for four months.

He also said that troops will be deployed to patrol forests and fight wildfires.

He disclosed that villagers will not be allowed to venture into forests in which there are frequent wildfires, to search for forest products. If they do, they will be arrested and charged.