Comments on: Smoke in Chiang Mai

By: Godfree

Godfree — Mon, 13 Jul 2020 01:20:41 +0000

In reply to Rod Swift. Why do you think it's nonsense?

By: Rod Swift

Rod Swift — Sun, 12 Jul 2020 02:15:19 +0000

July 2020
It is really difficult to know what to make of this article, beyond it is mostly nonsense, although understandable it was written a while ago.
I live in Chiang Mai, and almost daily drive out of the city to photograph insects; this last winter there were new fires almost daily in the ‘fire’ season, close to the main roads, never mind in the hills.
This winter, and last, the situation regarding the fires was particularly bad, indeed dreadful.
The hill tribe people may have something to do with the problem, but overall it appears that are not alone at all, and have little to do with the overall issues.

By: Rashad

Rashad — Tue, 23 May 2017 10:14:55 +0000

In reply to Godfree Roberts. I live in Chiang Mai and have been for a few years; I don't think the air is better now at all. It is now almost June and still hazy with a 2.5 Index of 135. This year, particularly, seems to be the worst so far. Started in Feb and...still hazy.

By: Godfree Roberts

Godfree Roberts — Tue, 16 May 2017 10:02:05 +0000

In reply to phil. The haze and, seasonally, smoke, is throughout SE Asia, but lessens along the coastlines, for obvious reasons. Most countries have begun taking steps to reduce it and, at least in Northern Thailand, air quality has markedly improved this year!

By: phil

phil — Mon, 15 May 2017 10:21:43 +0000

is the haze in southern Thai also? Phuket, HuaHin, Krabi?

By: Philip

Philip — Sun, 16 Apr 2017 01:57:17 +0000

An interesting and informative read. I did not know about the relationship between the mushroom harvest and slash and burn. I have lived in Chiang Mai and now Krabi for several years. I was in Chiang Mai a couple of weeks ago to help a friend post surgery. The air was so bad, I had my first asthma attack in years and acute bronchitis. I made two visits to the pulmonologist at CM Ram and had respiratory therapy. I am otherwise healthy and active, and have now fully recovered back in Krabi’s blue skies. It would be wonderful if something is finally done to change hearts and minds away from this antiquated practice that is no longer viable in a world with 6+ billion people. I love Chiang Mai but cannot stay in the north this time of year. I am hopeful but skeptical.

By: Godfree Roberts

Godfree Roberts — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 00:56:38 +0000

In reply to Richard. Rice stubble (stalks, etc.) is not a significant contributor to air pollution. Most of it is used for other purposes and what little is burned burns quickly and with little smoke. The haze we see is 95% from underbrush and land clearing. Most of the land clearing is done to prepare for palm oil planting and the majority of that is in Indonesia–even though we get that haze in Thailand. Hope this helps!

By: Richard

Richard — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 22:17:35 +0000

I have been reading for many years about the annual smoke / low air quality problem in Chiang Mai. All of these articles identified local farmers burning their rice fields to prepare for the new harvest. Your article is the only 1 I have read that talks about mushroom crops being the crop helped by this scorched earth burning, and not rice fields. I wish to move there soon and I very much wish to understand this issue. Is the smoke related to rice and mushroom crops, or just mushroom crops in your opinion??