The plan focuses on nine target provinces - Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Lampang, Phrae, Nan, Phayao, Mae Hong Son, and Tak - which have been hit by forest fires. Ministers also approved a budget of Bt93.8 million to fund operations.

Under the plan, emphasis is on the prevention of burning to ensure forest fires do not spread so wide that they will be difficult to control. The objective is to reduce damage that may occur.

It also calls for the mobilisation of forces from all sectors, as well as a volunteer network, to try to limit the haze. Responsible personnel will be provided with sufficient equipment to support their operations and monitor vulnerable areas.

Moreover, members of communities will be educated in forest fire control and be encouraged to participate in reducing burning throughout the critical period this year. Stricter law enforcement will be applied to people who start fires.

Governors of affected provinces will adopt the "Single Command" approach to deal with the situation. The Cabinet instructed 10 relevant government agencies to work in an integrated way with a centralised command set-up.

Forests drier, fire risks greater

In agricultural areas, the Ministry of Interior is working with the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives in a campaign against burning, while the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry will serve as core agency handling the problem in national reserves and conservation areas.

Forest fires in Thailand are caused primarily by human activity. Collecting forest products is a leading cause of fires, followed by hunting and clearing of land for cultivation and raising livestock.

Official reports show that |forest fires are more frequent because of extreme weather and global warming, which have caused severe and widespread drought. As a consequence, forests are drier and the chance of fire is much greater.

The dry season each year, from January to April, is a critical period for forest fires and haze pollution, especially in the North and Northeast.

The Northern Rainmaking Operations Centre, meanwhile, has prepared both personnel and equipment to ease the haze in the Upper North, as well as boosting moisture in the soil in forests, and water for reservoirs.

The Prime Minister instructed officials to work in a proactive manner, as the haze problem will have impacts on public health, the environment, and tourism.