Government Beware Of Karhutla At The Peak Of The Dry Season During The COVID-19 Pandemic

JAKARTA - The Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Kemenko Polhukam), the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), as well as other ministries / agencies, and local governments held a meeting to discuss awareness of the threat of forest and land fires (karhutla).

The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD said that this coordination meeting was a follow-up to the cabinet meeting on June 23. Mahfud said, in the middle of the year, the potential for forest and land fires is expected to increase. Because, at this time the dry season began to reach its peak.

"Entering the dry season, which is expected to peak in July to October, we must anticipate it. We must take coordinative steps to anticipate forest and land fires," said Mahfud at the Ministry of LHK, Central Jakarta, Thursday, July 2.

The next challenge is that Indonesia is still affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The government is also focusing on dealing with cases of COVID-19 transmission and fixing economic conditions.

"The forest and land fire disaster should not be forgotten or ignored because we are currently focused on COVID-19. We agreed that both must be taken seriously. We must not forget the threat of forest fires because we are focused on COVID-19," said Mahfud.

Continuing, Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar said the initial stage carried out was mapping the possible dates for the movement of forest and land fires by the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency. Furthermore, handling in the field will be handled by the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB).

"We have to be able to do a climate or weather analysis. Every condition of rainfall, dry season, sensitivity to fire has parameters, air quality, water balance, technology. That must be followed," said Siti.

In addition, there are preparations related to weather modification. This will be done if the water balance in an area is minimal due to the dry season. This weather modification will usually water the peat so that it becomes wet and does not burn easily.

"There is a connection between wet peat and the water balance in the peat. There is a method to calculate it. So, weather modification needs to be done. And there are points, namely Sumatra, Riau, South Sumatra, Jambi. After this, we move to Central Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, East Kalimantan and South Kalimantan, "added Siti.