NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, 28 May 2019 (NNT) - The wildfire situation in Thailand this year is more severe than last year due to high daily temperatures, the long dry season and a lack of rain. The fire at Khuan Khreng peat swamp forest on the night of May 24 covered an area of nearly 100 rai. Villagers have since proposed the dredging of natural canals that exist around the Khuan Khreng peat swamp forest, to act more effectively as firebreaks.


Maj. Gen. Sitthiporn Musikasin, Deputy Commander of the 4th Army Area, visited Khuan Khreng peat swamp forest, Cha-uat district, Nakhon Si Thammarat province, to assess the situation and discuss the dredging of 18 shallow natural canals around the Khuan Khreng peat swamp forest with a subdistrict headman, a village headman and local people. The enhanced natural canals could then store water within the peat swamp forest and the canals become more effective as firebreaks, as well as water transport routes. The waterways would also become a food source for people in the area. In the past, it wasn’t possible to proceed with the scheme, due to regulations of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.


Maj. Gen. Sitthiphorn has asked for cooperation to expedite the exploration of the possibility of dredging all 18 natural canals. He said the 4th Army Area is ready to provide troops and equipment to undertake the digging, adding that the Khuan Khreng peat swamp forest fire season will last until September. Canal dredging would help lessen the impact of fires on people living around the peat swamp forest area. The peat swamp forest fire came to within a few meters of Cha-uat Khreng Thammawitthaya School, but the canals which already serve as firebreaks helped prevent the fire from spreading into the school area.
National News Bureau Of Thailand