The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has reported a significant decrease in wildfires within Thailand’s Western Forest Complex, with a reduction of over 40%. This achievement is attributed to coordinated efforts across various sectors.

 

Narupon Thipmonta, Director of Forest Fire Prevention and Suppression, highlighted the severe impact on the Srinakarin Dam National Park in Kanchanaburi Province. Spanning the districts of Sai Yok, Si Sawat, and Thong Pha Phum, the park is a vital conservation area featuring natural attractions like the Huai Mae Khamin Waterfall, hot springs, caves, and a lake. The area's challenging terrain and vast water regions create significant obstacles during wildfire incidents.

 

The complex topography often delays the arrival of firefighting personnel at the blaze sites. Local authorities identified the primary causes of wildfires as illegal hunting, gathering forest products, and land clearing for livestock grazing. Farmers frequently set fires to clear underbrush and create grassland, inadvertently leading to uncontrolled fires that spread widely.

 

An integrated approach has been implemented to tackle the wildfire issue, involving collaboration between the Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, local administrative organisations, and forest fire control stations. Key to this effort have been the elite Tiger Firefighting foot patrols, deployed to manage the fires effectively.

 

In addition, helicopters from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment have been utilised to aid ground teams. Narupon credits the success in wildfire reduction to the collaboration among all relevant sectors, citing it as a model of effective, cooperative effort.

 

This significant reduction in wildfires demonstrates the effectiveness of a unified approach to environmental challenges, highlighting the importance of cross-sector collaboration in addressing natural disasters.

 

File photo courtesy: Wikipedia

 

-- 2024-06-18

 

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recent California study:
 

In a study published in Science Advances this week, researchers used a new epidemiological model to examine the impacts of wildfire PM2.5 exposure between 2008-2018: a period that includes some of the state’s most destructive and deadly fire seasons. There were at least 52,480 premature deaths attributed to exposure to the inhalable particulate matter from wildfires, and at least $432bn in health expenses associated with the exposure, according to the study.

 

”there is evidence of an increase in the risk of both cardiovascular- and respiratory-related effects in response to wildfire smoke exposure, particularly as the intensity of wildfire smoke increases.”