KLHK Records 10,090 Number Of Hotspots In South Sumatra In 2023

Illustration of forest fires (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) noted that in 2023 the number of hotspots that became hotspots was 10,090 points or 80 percent in South Sumatra (Sumsel).

This number is far less than in 2015 as many as 71,000 hotspots and in 2019 with a total of 29,000 points.

"The area that (many) burned was an open area, so it had to be researched and a solution had to be found because the open area meant that it wanted to be used by the community," said LHK Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar in a statement quoted from Antara, Friday, November 17.

In addition, Siti Nurbaya said that related to companies that violated the rules, the Directorate General of Law and Human Rights had taken steps.

"I also received a report from the local government that they also took legal sanctions steps. We can be parallel, there is no problem," he said.

Meanwhile, the acting Governor of South Sumatra Agus Fatoni said that in an effort to handle forest and land fires, the South Sumatra Provincial Government together with other ranks and stakeholders continued to work together to handle forest and land fires.

"Various steps have been taken, one of which is by shifting the budget for handling forest and land fires at the district/city level. Local governments can shift the budget in emergency conditions, meaning there is no reason for the regional government not to have a budget, especially in handling forest and land fires," said Fatoni.