Prediction Of Dry Dry Dry Season, West Sumatra Provincial Government Anticipates Forest Fires

Illustration of forest fires (ANTARA)

The Governor of West Sumatra, Mahyeldi reminded districts and cities in the area must be ready to anticipate forest and land fires (Karhutla) because the BMKG prediction in 2023 will be drier than 2022. "Every relevant agency in the regions must prepare measures and funding related to efforts to deal with forest and land fires (karhutla) so that it does not continue to repeat, let alone be wider," he said, quoted by ANTARA, Monday, March 13. He said that at the 2023 West Sumatra Provincial Level Karhutla Control Ceremony activity on the South Coast. According to him, so far, the problem of forest and land fires control has often been hampered because of classical problems, namely the non-availability of budgets, we need to remind them, so that Karhutla control operations are not neglected due to classical reasons such as the absence of sufficient budget. In the future, the same thing should not be repeated," he said. He said based on the results of a special coordination meeting on forest and land fires management on January 20, 2023 in Jakarta, it was stated that forest and forest fires cases in West Sumatra during 2022 experienced a sharp increase. Based on reports from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the area of forest and land fires in West Sumatra during 2022 was recorded covering an area of 9,832 hectares. This makes West Sumatra the province with the highest case on the island of Sumatra. "From this data, it was found that the largest forest and land forest fires are the southern coastal, Solok, Pasaman and West Pasaman districts. "As a form of regional preparedness, then today we hold a forest and forest alert rally activity, we make sure that all parties are aware and able to prepare solutions," he said.

In addition, Mahyeldi also reminded the BMKG's prediction that 2023 will be drier than in 2022, so that it is estimated that there will be an increase in forest and land fires like 2019. The decline in the potential for rain will lead to an increase in forest and land fires vulnerability. He asked in particular for the Provincial Dalkarhutla Task Force and the Dalkarhutla KPH, TNI, POLRI, BPBD, Fire Care Community (MPA), a quick reaction team from the company and other stakeholders to increase awareness and work hand in hand in efforts to tackle forest and land fires in accordance with the mandate of Presidential Instruction No. 3 of 2020.