Fire culture fuels pollution debate


Controversial: A member of the Pakanyo tribe standing near a fire set in protected forest land at Chiang Mai province. — AP

When the haze season comes, village chief Nanthawat Tiengtrongsakun and his tribesmen start preparing the land for fire.

They cut shrubs and trees on their small parcels of land, then set controlled burns that will clear their fields for planting – and send up plumes of smoke that add to some of the worst air in the world.

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