Chiang Rai Province’s Integrated Forest Fire Management Strategy

Abstract

     This research aimed to: 1) study the integrated forest fire management models in Chiang Rai Province;  2) develop integrated forest fire management strategies and tactics for the province; and 3) propose policy guidelines for the concrete implementation of these strategies and tactics. The target population consisted of representatives from stakeholders involved in policy formulation and the execution of forest fire management policies in Chiang Rai. The research instruments included focus group discussions employing SWOT Analysis to evaluate internal and external environments, and TOWS Matrix Analysis to determine strategies. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis.
     The research findings revealed that regarding the first objective, Chiang Rai Province still faces structural, policy, social, and cultural challenges, particularly the centralized single command system and “Zero Burning” measures, which limit community roles in forest fire management despite the public possessing accurate knowledge of the issue. For the second objective, five key strategies were identified: 1) creating proactive public learning processes and developing community potential; 2) restructuring forest fire committees to be more proactive and integrated; 3) expanding burning-free agricultural areas; 4) developing knowledge and technology for forest fire forecasting; and 5) establishing multi-sectoral cooperation networks. Concerning the third objective, the developed policy guidelines were evaluated by 10 experts as highly appropriate, with an overall mean score of 4.51 out of 5.00. The guidelines were found to be consistent with the provincial context, feasible for implementation, and characterized by clear integration mechanisms, reflecting that these policy guidelines can be practically applied in the local context of Chiang Rai Province.