Early detection a key part of Indonesia’s fire management efforts in face of greater wildfire threat

Summary

Indonesia is battling a severe wildfire crisis, exacerbated by the El Nino weather phenomenon. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency reported nearly 500 forest fires in the first eight months of the year. In Riau Province, elite firefighter teams are using helicopters and fire towers for early detection and prevention. Despite efforts to engage local communities and reduce slash-and-burn practices, fires still occur, particularly in land conflict areas. Major plantation companies like APP are committed to minimizing fire damage, but the increasing severity of the El Nino season poses a significant challenge for the country’s firefighting efforts.

Takeaways

• 😀 Indonesia is facing an increasingly severe wildfire season, expected to peak this month due to dry conditions and the El Niño phenomenon.
• 🔥 Nearly 500 forest fires have been recorded in Indonesia during the first eight months of this year, exacerbated by weather conditions.
• 🚁 Rapid response teams in Riau Province are equipped with helicopters to monitor and control wildfires in hard-to-reach areas.
• 👨‍🚒 Firefighters are deployed to cover vast areas, with each team responsible for 20,000 hectares of land.
• 🔥 John, a firefighter with 28 years of experience, shared how challenging it is to extinguish peatland fires, especially during intense dry seasons.
• 🌍 The 2015 wildfires in Indonesia burned over 2 million hectares, causing $16 billion in economic losses and widespread haze affecting neighboring countries.
• 🏢 Large plantation companies, like APP, have implemented fire prevention strategies, including the installation of 61 fire towers to monitor vast plantation areas.
• 🔭 Each fire tower has a 7.5-kilometer radius of coverage, with two personnel monitoring it daily from 7 AM to 6 PM to detect potential fires early.
• 🤝 APP works with local communities to reduce slash-and-burn practices, providing machinery for land clearing as an alternative method for land preparation.
• 🌱 Despite these efforts, some fires still occur in APP’s concession areas, especially in regions with land conflicts, where overlapping land claims prevent proper monitoring and prevention.
• ☀️ The severity of the upcoming El Niño will test APP’s fire management system, as the company strives to limit fires to less than 2% of its concession areas each year.

Q & A

What is the primary cause of the increasing wildfires in Indonesia this year?

The primary cause of the increasing wildfires in Indonesia this year is the El Niño weather phenomenon, which is intensifying the dry season across the country.

How many forest fires were recorded in Indonesia in the first eight months of the year?

Nearly 500 forest fires were recorded in the first eight months of the year in Indonesia.

What role does the rapid response team play in combating wildfires in Rial Province?

The rapid response team in Rial Province conducts routine patrols to detect wildfires. They act as the first responders when a fire is spotted, using helicopters for aerial surveillance in remote areas.

How many helicopters were added to the firefighting fleet in Indonesia?

Eight more helicopters were added to the firefighting fleet to help with the anticipated dry season this year.

What specific challenge did firefighter John highlight about fighting wildfires?

Firefighter John highlighted the difficulty of fighting peatland fires, which were especially tough during the 2015 fires in Indonesia.

What impact did the 2015 wildfires have on Indonesia and its neighbors?

The 2015 wildfires in Indonesia destroyed more than 2 million hectares of forest, caused at least 16 billion USD in economic losses, and blanketed parts of Indonesia and neighboring countries with smoke and haze.

What is the purpose of fire towers used by companies like APP?

The fire towers, which are 30 meters high, are part of an early detection strategy. They are designed to monitor a radius of 7.5 kilometers and are manned by personnel to detect fires promptly.

How does APP engage with local communities to prevent wildfires?

APP engages with local communities by discouraging slash-and-burn practices and providing alternative land clearing methods, such as machines for land preparation.

What challenge does APP face in controlling fires in its concession areas?

APP faces challenges in controlling fires in areas with land conflicts. These conflicts prevent effective management of certain areas, leaving them vulnerable to fire.

What is APP's goal in terms of fire prevention within its concession areas?

APP aims to limit fires to less than 2% of its concession areas and those of its suppliers each year, although the severity of the current El Niño is testing the system.