Bridging borders for fire resilience

The Mekong River defines much of the natural divide along the roughly 1,800-kilometre shared border between Lao PDR and Thailand. Beyond the Mekong, the two countries share vast forested landscapes, which are at constant threat from forest fires.

Forest fires do not recognize borders. They often cross national boundaries, devastating contiguous ecosystems and biodiversity. These fires threaten the lives and livelihoods of rural communities, who often share a common cultural heritage and linguistic ties.

On a larger scale, these fires contribute to severe air pollution, with smoke and haze affecting much larger populations, far beyond the immediate fire zones. This pollution often reaches the capitals, Vientiane and Bangkok, impacting millions of people.

To address the root cause of fires, RECOFTC has been working with local governments and communities in four lower Mekong countries – Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam. Our approach centres on community-based fire management (CBFiM), working with local community members to prevent and manage forest fires.

CBFiM in Lao PDR and Thailand

In Lao PDR’s Bokeo and Xayaboury provinces, we work with communities, civil society, local government officials, local women and youth unions in 25 villages. Across the border, in Nan province, upper northern Thailand, we work with village leaders and community members in four villages – Manee Phruek, Rat-rat Pattana, Kio Nam and Sawang. We also work with civil society and local government officials.

Our core strategy has been to capacitate communities in developing fire management plans that build into their broader forest management frameworks – village forest management plans in Lao PDR and community forest management plans in Thailand. The capacity-building process involves working closely with the communities to study past fire patterns, identify fire-prone areas and equip community members with the skills and knowledge to prevent, control and even utilize fires sustainably.

Our country project coordination teams provide training on implementing preventative measures by reducing fuel loads, practicing prescribed burning, provisioning water supplies and creating fire breaks. We also provide training on fire safety and suppression using locally appropriate tools. We extend technology support tailored to the needs of local communities and help establish governance mechanisms to organize regular forest patrols.

In Lao PDR, we have worked closely with the Forest Inventory and Planning Division at the Department of Forestry, helping develop national forest fire management guidelines. We have also partnered with provincial and district agricultural and forest offices in Bokeo to organize training of trainers to extend the CBFiM concept to communities. Similarly, in Thailand, we are working with academia, civil society and government officials to develop guidelines on prescribed burning.

Cross-border learning and collaboration

In October 2024, we organized a cross-learning event in Kok Luang village, Bokeo province, Lao PDR. The event brought together 81 participants, including 41 representatives from Thailand’s Nan province.

The Thai delegation was comprised of community leaders from the four pilot villages and government officials from the Nan Provincial Office of Natural Resources and Environment, the Nan Provincial Office of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, and the Royal Forestry Department. Lao PDR’s delegation included representatives from the Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office, the District Agriculture and Forestry Office, and members of the Lao Women’s Union and Lao People’s Revolutionary Youth Union.

Khammouan Sinuanchan, from the Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office in Bokeo province, facilitated a discussion where participants exchanged experiences on fire management practices, operational mechanisms and the roles of communities and local governments. Speaking of the discussion, he says, “It was a unique opportunity for all of us to learn from each other. We saw how different communities approach fire management, giving us new ideas to take back to our provinces.”

The role of women in forest management was a highlight of the exchange. Women’s groups from Lao PDR showcased products like processed bamboo shoots and handicrafts at the event. Participants visited several forestry sites, including plantations of Indian gooseberry, rattan and rubber, and collective and private teak plantations. These field visits offered practical examples of how diverse forestry interventions benefit both the environment and community livelihoods, demonstrating sustainable methods that align with local economic goals.

Thai participants say they found the exchange particularly valuable, gaining insights from Lao PDR’s practices while also building stronger connections between their own community and government officials. Supawat Mata, head of the Doi Phu Kha Forest Fire Control Station, speaks about the significance of bringing communities, civil society and government stakeholders together. “Knowledge exchange leads to fresh ideas that can be applied to local contexts for more effective fire management,” he says.

Mata also notes the similarities between Thailand and Lao PDR in forest resource and fire management, especially in legal enforcement. “Despite having clear laws, enforcement must consider the needs of local communities who depend on forest resources,” he comments.

Driving change for people and forests

As climate change exacerbates environmental conditions, forest fires are likely to increase in frequency and intensity. The region already faces rising temperatures, prolonged dry seasons, and an increased likelihood of extreme weather events, all contributing to heightened risk of forest fires.

Learning exchanges are critical first steps in building connections, ownership and cross-border collaboration on reducing the incidence and impact of forest fires. Marina Tornorsam, regional manager for the CBFiM project, emphasizes the significance of such exchanges. “These cross-learning events help us reflect on our progress. They also foster collaboration and strengthen mutual support among everyone involved – community members, civil society members and government stakeholders.”

One of the youngest participants, fourteen-year-old Phimlapat Boonin from Rat-rat Pattana village in Thailand says that the event expanded her understanding of environmental and social safeguards in fire management. She hopes to adapt this knowledge for use in her own community. As the village leader’s daughter, Boonin is motivated to help her community grow. “I now understand more about fire and haze challenges that plague both countries,” she says. 

The urgency of the growing problem of transboundary haze pollution is also increasingly recognized at the government level. Thailand, Lao PDR and Myanmar have launched the Clear Sky Strategy 2024–2030, focusing on enhancing cooperation in fire control, hotspot reduction, sustainable agricultural practices and monitoring systems.

However, translating such regional agreements into implementation at the grassroots levels takes time and apposite institutional frameworks.

Institutions like RECOFTC, with both policy expertise and on-the-ground presence, are well-placed to drive meaningful change for people and forests.

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Utsav Maden is communication and engagement officer at RECOFTC.