BANGKOK, March 28 (Bernama) -- Thailand is ramping up efforts to combat wildfires in the northern provinces as part of a broader push to curb hazardous PM2.5 air pollution.
Deputy Government Spokesperson Karom Phonphonklang said the government, in collaboration with all relevant agencies, is working continuously to address forest fires.
He said the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has been especially active in monitoring and controlling wildfires across 14 designated forest zones, with the aim of reducing haze and protecting public health.
"Field operations involve officials and local communities, employing technologies to extinguish fires and detect forest fires, conducting proactive campaigns to discourage forest burning, and strictly enforcing laws to penalise those who illegally set fires," he said in a statement on Friday.
He added that the primary causes of forest fires in Thailand stem from human activities, including foraging, poaching, illegal logging, livestock grazing, and the negligence of campers.
According to Thai media reports on Tuesday, areas in two districts of Chiang Mai where wildfires have been burning for the past two weeks have been declared disaster zones, as local authorities continue efforts to bring the blazes under control.
This year, Karom said the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has adopted proactive measures to strictly enforce laws against forest burning.
“To date, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has prosecuted 63 cases involving 21 suspects, with damage reported to 443.56 hectares of protected forest land.
“The Royal Forest Department has pursued 94 cases in national reserved forests, involving damage to 967.04 hectares as of Thursday (March 27),” he added.
Karom explained that under the National Parks Act of 2019, offenders face imprisonment of 4 to 20 years and fines ranging from 400,000 to 2,000,000 baht (100 baht= RM13.07).
“Violations may also incur further penalties under the National Reserved Forest Act and other relevant legislation. Offenders are additionally liable for civil damages of 120,000 baht per rai (0.16 hectares), which will be allocated towards the restoration of forests and ecosystems damaged by the fires,” he added.
-- BERNAMA
