MFU Hosts Museum Dialogue: From Community Wisdom to Cultural-Ecological Wildfire Management

Mae Fah Luang University (MFU), through the Institute for Mekong Basin Civilization, Art, and Culture, in collaboration with the Research Unit for Indigenous and Ethno-Ecological Wisdom for Sustainable Development (RIEW-SD) and its partner networks, hosted a Museum Dialogue under the theme "From Community Wisdom to Cultural-Ecological Wildfire Management System" on 30 May 2026.

The event served as a platform to extract key lessons and summarise the outcomes of the project titled "Expanding Knowledge and Innovation for Smoke Haze and Wildfire Management through Tribal Wisdom in Chiang Rai Province in Target Areas." The initiative aimed to scale up the traditional wildfire management models of the ethnic Pgaz k'nyau (Karen) community from Huay Hin Lad Nai village (Wiang Pa Pao District, Chiang Rai Province) to other ethnic communities to foster mutual understanding and collaboration. 

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pollavat Praphattong, Head of the Institute for Mekong Basin Civilization, Art, and Culture, presided over the opening ceremony and delivered the remarks. Asst. Prof. Dr. Suwichan Phatthanaphraiwan, a lecturer at the School of Liberal Arts and the head of the research project, presented the project's objectives. The event was attended by over 100 participants, including ethnic community members and key stakeholders involved in smoke haze and wildfire management from Huay Hin Lad Nai village and surrounding areas. 

The session featured a project overview alongside a presentation of satellite fire-monitoring data spanning January to April (2025-2026). This was followed by a series of insightful panel discussions, including: “Lessons Learned from Utilising Ethnic Wisdom in Wildfire Prevention”; “Innovations and Equipment for Fire Utilisation and Management,”; and “Fire-Watching Economy.”

Additionally, the event gathered practical ideas and policy proposals to guide fire management strategies for the remainder of 2026. The key findings and recommendations were categorised into four main areas: Knowledge, People and Networks, Area-Based Plans and Systems, and Policy Proposals. 

The event concluded with a joint declaration on ethical fire management by the Ethnic River Basin Network of Chiang Rai Province. The declaration was read by Mr. Manop Boonyuenkul, Head of Tha Ko Sub-district, Mae Suai District, Chiang Rai Province, who served as the official representative of the ethnic communities.