CHIANGRAI, Feb 25 (TNA) – Thailand and Laos have initiated a collaborative effort to combat transboundary haze by establishing firebreaks and promoting burn-free agricultural practices along the Chiang Rai border.
This collaborative initiative, led by the Thailand Environment Institute (TEI) and local partners, aims to mitigate the spread of forest fires and encourage sustainable farming methods. Discussions between Thai and Laotian officials emphasized the critical need to reduce burning in both forested and agricultural regions.
The project fosters cooperation at both policy and local levels, facilitating knowledge exchange and experience sharing. Laotian leaders have observed successful burn-reduction models, such as the Mae Chaem Model in Chiang Mai, to understand effective strategies for tackling transboundary haze. This exchange is crucial for developing consistent and effective regional solutions.
TEI is also implementing on-the-ground projects, exemplified by the model at Pong Klang Nam. This initiative addressed the issue of monoculture corn farming and post-harvest burning by introducing a village fertilizer bank. Villagers now convert agricultural waste into organic fertilizer, reducing both burning and production costs.
This shift has encouraged farmers to diversify their crops, including fruit trees, rubber trees, and tea gardens. This diversification, coupled with the presence of perennial trees, has instilled a sense of environmental stewardship. Consequently, a village once plagued by high hotspot counts now experiences minimal burning, demonstrating the project’s positive impact.-819 (TNA)
