The Ministry Of Environment And Forestry Suggests That The Weather Modification Prevent Forest And Land Fires In Sumatra Be Extended

Illustration of forest and land fires extinguishing using helicopters. (Between-Mushaful)

SUMBAR - The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) recommends extending the period of application of weather modification technology (TMC) to overcome forest and land fires (karhutla) in Sumatra.

Head of the Center for Climate Change Control, Forest Fire, KLHK Land in the Sumatra region, Ferdian, said the implementation of TMC was carried out by seeding salt in clouds that could increase the potential for rain to fall.

Ferdian assessed that the rain was urgently needed to help accelerate the handling of forest and land fires in several areas that were of special concern, namely Jambi, South Sumatra, Riau, North Sumatra, and Aceh.

"The land is in dry condition, especially South Sumatra, Jambi," he said in Jakarta, Tuesday, October 31, was confiscated by Antara.

Ferdian explained that dry land is prone to fire, such as Jambi, which still has one hotspot. Located in Londerang Regency, which since Tuesday morning the Manggala Agni KLHK team and the local forest and land fire task force team are still trying to extinguish it.

Then, for South Sumatra it is still the province with the highest number of hotspots in Sumatra.

This is known based on KLHK data found around 50 hotspots spread across Ogan Komering Ilir and Ogan Ilir Regencies, respectively.

"TMC is currently underway in South Sumatra, and it is possible to extend it the same after previously Riau, North Sumatra and Aceh," he said.

It is known that the implementation of TMC in South Sumatra which received funding support from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) will end on November 4, 2023.

However, seeing the conditions on the ground that have not been fully controlled by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and the local government have submitted a request for an extension of the TMC in the region.

"Yes, South Sumatra has been requested for an extension of weather modifications for some time to come," he said.

Riau, North Sumatra, and Aceh although forest and land fires have been more controlled, it is also possible to do TMC again. According to him, this depends on the needs and considerations of the local government as the holder of the respective authorities who are still regions.

"The principle is two, namely comprehensive field handling and the gift of rain," he said.