Dr Linkham Douangsavanh (left) and Mr Suchart Chomklin display the agreements they signed on Lao-Thai cooperation in environmental management.

Laos and Thailand join forces to tackle wildfires, air pollution
 
The Lao and Thai environment ministries have pledged to jointly address the issues of wildfires and transboundary air pollution, with Thailand providing equipment, expertise and personnel to improve prevention and response efforts.
The agreement was reached during talks between Lao Minister of Agriculture and Environment, Dr Linkham Douangsavanh, and Thailand’s Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Mr Suchart Chomklin, during the Lao minister’s official visit to Thailand on Tuesday.
The two ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in Natural Resources and Environment, aimed at strengthening technical cooperation and environmental management.
The MoU covers air pollution prevention and control, climate change adaptation, disaster management, remote sensing technology and personnel development and was approved by the Thai Cabinet on August 25.
During the meeting, Thailand handed over equipment to support Laos in preventing and controlling forest fires and air pollution. PTT Oil and Retail Business Public Co., Ltd. provided 30 leaf blowers, while Gulf Development Public Co., Ltd. donated four air-quality monitoring units.
The equipment is expected to strengthen firefighting operations and improve the monitoring and management of forest fires, while helping reduce the impact of transboundary smog and improve air quality in both countries.
The cooperation forms part of Thailand’s ClearSky Strategy, under which Thailand plans to share its experience and technical knowledge in forest-fire management with Laos.
Thailand also intends to dispatch forest-fire management personnel to Laos this year to provide training and strengthen the readiness of Lao officials in preparation for the next dry season, when forest fires are most prevalent.
The two governments will also coordinate on cloud-seeding activities to increase moisture in forests and remote mountainous areas, where dry conditions can contribute to the spread of forest fires.
In addition, a delegation from the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is visiting Chiang Mai from September 9-11 to learn about Thailand’s forest-fire and air pollutionmanagement system.
The delegation will visit the Haze, Forest Fire and PM2.5 Monitoring Operations Room at the Chiang Mai Centre for the Prevention and Resolution of Forest Fires, Haze and PM2.5.
The Lao officials will study Thailand’s integrated command system, including situation monitoring, data use, coordination of personnel and resources, and field operations.
They will also visit the Chiang Mai Provincial Forest Fire Operations Centre to learn about approaches that could be adapted to the Lao context.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update September 10, 2026)