Managing smoke: bridging the gap between policy and research: or “what to do while it is raining outside…”

The El Niño related fires, and the resultant smoke–haze across much of Southeast Asia, in 1997–1998, have stimulated a search for explanations and for policy measures to prevent re-occurrences. This paper attempts a synthesis of the issues raised, particularly at the Chiang Mai policy workshop, and a prioritization of research and policy actions. Some proposed research has little immediate policy application, while some obvious policy measures do not need much more research, just political courage and stamina. The paper addresses the question “what sort of research would be most useful in bridging the gap and resolving the problems currently faced in managing smoke in the ASEAN region?” The suggested answer focuses on crafting local institutions to prevent or control damaging fires (not all fires) with supportive provincial and national legislation and agencies, that build on local measures rather than ignoring or degrading them. To some extent, addressing the underlying causes of the fires and haze will require “political courage and stamina” but this can be bolstered and reinforced by local, national and international calls for greater government accountability for the outcomes.