Nagekeo Regency NTT Government Warns Traditional Hunting Activities By Burning Forests Forbidden

Illustration of fighting forest and land fires or forest and land fires. (Between)

NTT - The Nagekeo Regency Government in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province has asked residents not to carry out traditional hunting activities by burning forests and land (karhutla).

This was said by the Head of the Civil Service and Fire Police Unit of Nagekeo Regency, Muhayan Amir, in response to two forest fires incidents in Lego, Aeramo Village and Dadiwuwu, Lape Village, on Monday, July 18 evening.

"Our culture is that hunting is customary, the government supports it. But the government prohibits hunting with forest fires. Talking about hunting does not have to burn forests, because now hunting for forest fires is a violation," said Amir when contacted, Tuesday 19 July.

Currently, Amir said, the police were conducting an initial identification and investigation of the cause of the fire at the two locations.

He said several local areas have the potential for forest and land fires in the dry season because the fields are filled with dry weeds.

He said several areas have hunting traditions, such as Aeramo, Nggolonio, South Aesesa, Boawae, Ndora, and Nangaroro.

"Is there a connection between hunting and fire? We will investigate," he said.

He emphasized that the government does not prohibit hunting activities which are part of the community's culture.

However, if hunting activities are carried out by burning forests and destroying the environment, then it is a form of violation.

Muhayan Amir invites all elements of society to take responsibility in case of fires in their respective areas.

"If a case befalls us, let us join hands to extinguish the fire under the coordination of the local government," he said.

He explained that the officers were trying to extinguish the fire that led to residential areas in the area, while the fire that spread at an altitude that could not be reached by the officers could not be controlled, but still monitored.

The Head of the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Nagekeo Regency Agustinus Pone admitted that he had carried out socialization and coordination with the TNI-Polri to monitor the potential for forest and land fires caused by human activities.

He conveyed that one of the causes of human-made forest and land fires was included in the socio-cultural factor, namely hunting activities.

Therefore, his party conducts integrated supervision of areas that have the potential to minimize forest and land fires.