KLHK Beware Of Potential For Forest And Land Fires During The Peak Cycle Of The Dry Season

ILLUSTRATION/BETWEEN PHOTOS

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) is aware of the potential for forest and land fires (karhutla) during the peak cycle of the dry season which takes place in July-October 2021.

Head of Sub-Directorate for Combating Karhutla KLHK Radian Bagiyono said the prediction of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) regarding the peak of the dry season which will last from August to September has become an important warning for the implementation of forest and land fire prevention.

"Until now, 83 percent of Indonesia's territory has experienced the peak of drought, this is a matter of vigilance," said Radian at a coordination meeting of the Disaster Management Intelligence Team: Anticipation of Hydrometeorological Disasters, quoted by Antara, Thursday, September 2.

Radian said that based on hot spot data (hot spot) forecast for August-October, the potential for forest and land fires is likely in central Sumatra and parts of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

Then in September-October, forest and land fires are likely to occur in parts of NTB and NTT.

In addition, six provinces, namely Riau, West Kalimantan, Jambi, South Sumatra, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan have set a forest fire alert status in 2021 to prevent the disaster.

"We also thank BNPB (National Disaster Management Agency) for air operations in the province with standby status," he said.

Regarding the prevention and handling of forest and land fires, Radian explained that the Ministry of Environment and Forestry has collaborated with a number of government agencies to keep peatlands wet with weather modification technology.

In addition, forming operational clusters by improving coordination of logistics resources in regional Task Forces. Then the formation of fire-aware communities and Disaster Resilient Villages in areas prone to forest and land fires.

Radian said that the handling of forest and land fires also involves cooperation with the National Police and the TNI to carry out integrated forest and land fire patrols in vulnerable areas.

Radian said KLHK is also developing an early detection system using BMKG and Lapan data sources, as well as air quality indexes and other thematic data.

Then involve community participation so that they are aware of the law by forming a Paralegal Fire Care Society, to help socialize forest and land fires, especially from the legal aspect and economic development.

"Don't be complacent even though it's now wet because of lack of vigilance," he said.