BNPB's Steps To Anticipate Forest And Land Fires In The Midst Of More Worrying Predictions Of The Kemarau Season

Head of BNPB Lt. Gen. Suharyanto. (Photo via Antara/BNPB)

JAKARTA - Rainfall in Indonesia in 2023 is predicted to decline. In addition, Indonesia will also experience conditions that are drier than before.

This was conveyed by the Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Lt. Gen. Suharyanto. He said that in 2023 it is predicted that the dry weather will be higher than in 2022, 2021, and 2020.

"BNPB has prepared preventive measures so that the forest and land fires can be controlled and resolved," said Suharyanto in a written statement, as reported by Antara, Saturday, January 21.

While attending the 2023 Forest and Land Fire Management Coordination Meeting which was held at the Office of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), last Friday, Suharyanto said, the potential for forest and land fires was also higher. The reason is, the condition of the land will dry up if the rainfall decreases.

For this reason, BNPB has prepared a number of anticipatory steps. The steps referred to include coordinating with ministries/agencies and local governments, preparing land and air operations and conducting Weather Modification Technology (TMC).

"Plan 2023, we will alert more helicopters, 49 helicopters. If it is still lacking, BNPB will try to meet its needs," said Surharyanto.

"The helicopters are for patrols and water bombings, then carry out weather modification technology to engineer the weather, including preparing ready-to-use funds for operations," he continued.

The head of BNPB also appealed to local governments to determine emergency status. That's because BNPB has not been able to provide support if there is no such status.

"BNPB funds can support entry to the regions, the conditions are if there is an emergency alert status or emergency response," he concluded.

Meanwhile, efforts to handle Karhutla in 2022 are quite successful, the burned land has decreased compared to 2021.

In 2022, BNPB deployed 55 water bombing helicopters and 33 units for patrols. The burned land area decreased from 358,867 hectares in 2021 to 204,894 hectares in 2022. Natural factors also affect the decline in burned land area, in 2022 the weather conditions are relatively wetter than in 2021.