Causes and solution of forest and agricultural burning in Northern, Thailand

Abstract

The result revealed that the major causes of forest and agricultural burning concerned the modification of crop production patterns (subsistence production to commercial production), changed in the economic system, needed for the villagers to improve their quality of life under the limited availability of arable land, and beliefs and traditions. In addition, in-depth interviews with the community leaders indicated that local political bullying, conflicted with local government, negligence, foraging and hunting, and burning within the community fire barrier but being unable to control the fire which can lead to forest and agricultural burning. Furthermore, in-depth interviews with community leaders and village representatives in the Mae Chaem Model Project revealed that solutions to the problems are established in a village fire barrier, villagers’ participation process, built an understanding with villagers, the government policy for 60 days without burning forest and agricultural area to reduce smog, and helping to support the government. Thus, the success of community participation is depended on good leaders, supporting and continuous remedial measures. The cooperation of parties involved in the forest and wildfire management and created the opportunities for knowledge exchange between them which is considered as a sustainable approach for wildfire management