Solving transboundary haze

Jason Loh and Anis Salwana Abdul Malik


TRANSBOUNDARY
 haze affecting Malaysia has been an ongoing problem for decades, and is mainly caused by forest fires due
to agricultural techniques known as “slash-and-burn” from across the border (whether land, i.e. Kalimantan or
cross-straits, e.g. Riau). The root cause of this is the burning of peat lands for cultivation, which takes place especially during the drought season. This is when peat soil becomes flammable and fire spreads easily.

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Deforestation in Southeast Asia

Deforestation in Southeast Asia

BY OLIVIA LAIASIA | 7 MAR 2022

Forests cover just over 30% of the global land area, yet they harbour a vast majority of the world’s wildlife species – including 80% of the world’s amphibians, 75% of birds, and 68% of mammals. But since 1990, over 420 million hectares of forest have been lost as a result of human activity, largely due to deforestation and land clearing for agricultural purposes and logging. Southeast Asia has one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world to support the region’s agricultural and food production, as well as other raw material industries. We discuss what was the major cause of deforestation in Southeast Asia and look ahead to the future. 

Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand, is home to nearly 15% of the world’s tropical forests, which makes it all the more attractive as a deforestation hotspot. The region has one of the highest rates of deforestation, losing at least 1.2% of its forests annually, which is comparable only to Latin America where deforestation rates in the Amazon account for one-third of global tropical deforestation.

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Forest fire near highway in Phitsanulok

By: CHINNAWAT SINGHA | January 10th, 2021

 

PHITSANULOK: Local firefighters are combating a forest fire that broke out on Saturday, razing an area of about 500 rai in this central northern province.

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The Burning Issue: Fighting Forest Fires With Technology

BY :TIUR RUMONDANG | OCTOBER 09, 2020   Many living in Southeast Asia – and even…

Fewer forest fires, hot spots likely this year due to wetter weather, Covid-19 curbs: Indonesia’s disaster management chief

JAKARTA – Indonesia will likely have fewer land and forest fires this year because the dry season will be wetter in most parts of the country compared with last year, the head of Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said on Thursday (Aug 13).

ASEAN cooperation to address transboundary haze amid pandemic

By: Kung Phoak | July 20th, 2020

 

ASEAN – Forest fires are a major source of transboundary haze in the ASEAN region. It is particularly pronounced in the dry season during the first half of the year for the Mekong subregion and second half of the year, most notably from July to September, for the southern ASEAN region.

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Chiang Mai chokes as fires rage in the north of Thailand

By: Greeley Pulitzer |

 

Northern Thailand is choking under a toxic shroud and it’s not getting any better. Air pollution across the upper North remains “at critical levels,” in many areas, including some of the main population centres. Authorities are monitoring almost 400 active hotspots in Chiang Mai alone yesterday.

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Bad air worsens plight

By: Panumate Tanraksa | March 29, 2020 | newspaper section: News

Toxic haze has reached a dangerous tipping point in Chiang Mai province

 

The bushfires that have been raging near the tourist city of Chiang Mai over the past few days are heightening concerns for both residents and the authorities with the risk they pose of extreme air pollution, coming on top of worries about the coronavirus.

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Sun bear cub saved from forest fire

By: Saichol Srinuanchan | March 10, 2020

 

RATCHABURI: A sun bear cub has been saved from a forest fire in Chalerm Phrakiat Thai Prajan National Park in Ban Kha district, and is now in the care of a wildlife assistance centre.

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Helicopters sent to help combat forest fires in Thailand’s Nakhon Nayok

NA
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation deployed helicopters to contain the fires in Khao Falami by using water from Huai Prue Reservoir in Nakhon Nayok
Bangkok (NNT/VNA) – Forest fires continue to ravage Thailand’s central province of Nakhon Nayok, particularly Khao Falami in Khao Phra subdistrict, which is near Khao Yai National Park. Officers have rushed to extinguish the fires and prevent them from spreading into Khao Yai National Park. However, fires have now been detected in some areas of the national park.