Today (24 January 2020) H.E. Mr. Warawut Silpa-Archa, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, presided over the opening ceremony of the champagne to promote the rehearsal of forest fire extinguishers and create two fire protection areas for 2 lands (Thai-Myanmar), for fiscal year 2020. This event started with releasing cyclist volunteers searching for forest files at Doi Tung Tourist Bus Station and following with the seminar with the network to solve the forest fire and smoke problem, as well as gave instruments for forest fire control representatives and the networks. Moreover, there were foods provided for the volunteers and the demonstration of the rehearsal of forest fire extinguishers at the Friendship Stadium Thai-Myanmar (Than Chang Moob).

In the event, there were the delegates from the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Mr. Jatuporn Buruspat, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Natural Resources, and Environment, government officers, private sectors and public engaged this event. Mr. Warawut Silpa-Archa reported that this project was organized to build public awareness and understanding and to create knowledge about forest fire and haze protection, which has received cooperation from people both in the country and in neighboring countries. There were also the public problem sharing in the area to develop the work operation to the officers to increase skill and expertise in forest fire protection to be more productive, and promoting action and work-integrated. For the volunteer bikers searching forest fire, they are like vanguards for detection of forest fires because the network distributes in every district, which can help to inform officers to control the forest fire situation to no spread in a wide range and causing extensive damage.           

In this regard Department of National Park, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation has established activities for coordination and promotion of cooperation to solve forest fire and smog problems at the local level and neighboring countries continuously. The project received good collaboration from the public both in-country and in neighboring states, which built-in effective prevention of forest fire and haze as well as working under the strategies/measures of forest fire and smog protection and policies and other measures becoming more effective as well. Regarding these problems, if people see wild fires, burning forests, trade and hunt wild animals, and destruction of natural resources and environment of the country, please notify the hotline number 1362 for 24 hours.