Haze Action Plans
why the need for haze action plans?
ASEAN countries have developed National Plans to prevent and mitigate land and forest fires. The National Plans have several common elements, such as policies to restrict open burning and slash-and-burn practices. Some strategies include better air quality management, strict enforcement of laws and legislation and air quality monitoring regimes. National task committees are also formed to implement strategies to deal with fires, and also to apply technology to control the spread of fire. These committees also help to enhance public awareness of the haze situation.
One example would be the The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), which renewed calls for the enation and enforcement of zero-burn policies.
Strategies to restrict activities that may lead to land and forest fires and control emissions from mobile and stationary sources includes:
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Better air quality management legislation to restrict open burning;
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Strict enforcement of laws and legislation;
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Setting up air quality monitoring and reporting regimes, and surveillance on local sources of emissions, both mobile and stationary;
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Forming national task force/committee to implement strategies and response plans that deal with fires and smoke haze; and applying information of technology to provide haze-related information to relevant agencies so that the government can prevent and control spread of fire, and to enhance public awareness on the haze situation.
what are the causes of haze?
According to the National Environment Agency (NEA), the main cause of haze in Singapore are the forest fires in Indonesia. Why, then, is the slash and burn method so popular in Indonesia?
Firstly, it is quick and cheap, which is far less expensive than mechanical methods such as excavators or bulldozers. Also, the ash from fires also act as natural fertiliser.Once fires start, they often burn deep underground in deposits of carbon-rich peat and are hence extremely difficult to put out.
Despite the various chronic health problems caused by slash-and-burn practices, it remains popular in the villages of Indonesia. With the annual haze from forest fires on Sumatra worsening Satellites detected 265 hotspots when the PSI of the haze was 401, the highest recorded in Singapore.
