Thailand-Laos Cooperation on Forest Fires and PM2.5

Khaosod•Society•10d ago

Reader Briefing

Thailand and Laos strengthen cooperation to combat cross-border forest fires and PM2.5 pollution through data exchange and technology sharing.

•Associate Professor Dr. Linkham Duangsavan of Laos visited forest fire control operations in Chiang Mai on September 10, 2026.
•Thailand and Laos are developing the Airport4Mekong application to exchange situational data.
•Laos has installed four War Rooms in Bokeo, Xayabury, Luang Namtha, and Vientiane to monitor hotspots.
•The two nations are collaborating under the Clear Sky Strategy and a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

Overview

•On September 10, 2026, Associate Professor Dr. Linkham Duangsavan and a delegation visited the Chiang Mai Forest Fire Operation Center and the Chiang Mai Provincial Center for Prevention and Solution of Forest Fires, Smog, and PM2.5.
•Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation and Department of Pollution Control officials welcomed the Laotian delegation to exchange knowledge and technology on forest fire control.
•Thailand and Laos are collaborating to improve the efficiency of handling transboundary air pollution in the Mekong sub-region to reduce impacts on citizens and the environment.
•The Laotian delegation observed a virtual forest fire fighting demonstration involving incident command, support forces, and the use of drones for transporting blowers.
•Mr. Atthapol Charoinsansa stated that forest fire and smog problems have no borders, requiring close cooperation between neighboring countries.
•Laos has established four War Rooms in Bokeo, Xayabury, Luang Namtha, and Vientiane to track hotspots and evaluate situations more rapidly.
•Associate Professor Dr. Linkham Duangsavan indicated that Laos intends to designate the resolution of dust pollution as a national agenda.
•Thailand and Laos exchanged guidelines for preventing and suppressing transnational wildlife trade in accordance with the CITES convention.

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Key Entities

Person

Suchart Chomklin(สุชาติ ชมกลิ่น)ℹ️

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand.

Atthapol Charoinsansa(อรรถพล เจริญชันษา)

Director General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.

Surin Vorakitthamrong(สุรินทร์ วรกิจธำรง)

Director General of the Department of Pollution Control.

Linkham Duangsavan(ลินคำ ดวงสะหวัน)

Minister of Agriculture and Environment of the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Organization

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment(กระทรวงทรัพยากรธรรมชาติและสิ่งแวดล้อม)ℹ️

Thai ministry overseeing the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation and the Department of Pollution Control.

Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation(กรมอุทยานแห่งชาติ สัตว์ป่า และพันธุ์พืช)ℹ️

Thai government agency responsible for forest fire control and wildlife protection.

Department of Pollution Control(กรมควบคุมมลพิษ)

Thai agency managing air pollution data and tracking particulate matter.

Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of the Lao People's Democratic Republic(กระทรวงกสิกรรมและสิ่งแวดล้อมแห่งสาธารณรัฐประชาธิปไตยประชาชนลาว)

Laotian ministry collaborating with Thailand on environmental and forest fire issues.

Chiang Mai Forest Fire Operation Center(ศูนย์ปฏิบัติการไฟป่าเชียงใหม่)

Operational center in Chiang Mai used for forest fire control and command.

Chiang Mai Provincial Center for Prevention and Solution of Forest Fires, Smog, and PM2.5(ศูนย์อำนวยการป้องกันและแก้ไขปัญหาไฟป่า หมอกควัน และฝุ่นละอองขนาดเล็ก PM2.5 จังหวัดเชียงใหม่)

Command center for managing air pollution and forest fires in Chiang Mai province.

Airport4Mekong

Application being developed by Thailand and Laos for exchanging situational data.

Place

Chiang Mai(เชียงใหม่)ℹ️

Thai province where the forest fire operation centers are located.

Bokeo(บ่อแก้ว)ℹ️

Laotian province where a War Room for hotspot monitoring has been installed.

Xayabury(ไซยะบูลี)ℹ️

Laotian province where a War Room for hotspot monitoring has been installed.

Luang Namtha(หลวงน้ำทา)ℹ️

Laotian province where a War Room for hotspot monitoring has been installed.

Vientiane(เวียงจันทน์)ℹ️

Laotian city/province where a War Room for hotspot monitoring has been installed.

Policy

Clear Sky Strategy(ยุทธศาสตร์ฟ้าใส)

Strategic framework for cooperation between Thailand and Laos to manage air pollution.

Law

CITESℹ️

International convention guiding Thailand and Laos in suppressing transnational wildlife trade.