South Sumatra Governor Asks Local Government To Establish Fire And Forest Alert Post

PALEMBANG - South Sumatra Governor Herman Deru appealed to every government in 17 districts and cities in this area to immediately establish a command post for forest and land fire alerts (karhutla).

"The establishment of command posts in each region (17 regencies/cities) is a form of anticipating forest and land fires that I have signed today (the instruction letter, ed)," said Herman Deru in Palembang, quoted by Antara, Friday, May 27.

According to him, the command posts are prepared at points prone to forest and land fires scattered in each region, including unproductive or abandoned areas.

Based on the results of a cross-sectoral evaluation of the Provincial Government and other related parties, it was found that most of the South Sumatra forest and land fires cases occurred in that area and therefore need to be monitored.

"For the current forest and land fires, I have not received a report, but anticipation still needs to be optimized, as we have done every year," he said.

Herman Deru explained that the officers at the command post, which were alerted by each district and city government, were also assigned to take an inventory of the amount of land that has the potential for fires during the dry season, which has already begun.

"This includes taking data on who owns the land, especially the unproductive land area. The aim is to invite them to jointly make efforts to minimize the potential for forest and land fires," he added.

Because, he said, land owners are also required to pay attention to their land as regulated in the Governor's Regulation regarding land use.

"If it is neglected after so many years and is not managed so that it is damaged, there will be sanctions," he said.

Meanwhile, the South Sumatra Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has mapped at least 7 districts in 2022 that are prone to forest and land fires.

The districts of Ogan Komering Ilir, Musi Banyuasin, Banyuasin, Muara Enim, PALI, Ogan Komering Ulu Selatan, and Lahat are respectively.

The area is categorized as prone to forest and land fires based on calculations based on geographical location which has relatively large peatlands, so it is of particular concern.