November 19, 2024 – Siem Reap, Cambodia
Addressing the urgent need for regional collaboration on forest fire management, Prof. Bambang Hero Saharjo, a leading expert in forest and environmental fire science from IPB University, delivered a powerful keynote speech at the Mekong-Korea Forest Fire Symposium (MKKF) 2024 held at the Sokha Siem Reap Palace Hotel, Cambodia.
Photo: group photo (Copyright: Committee)
Bogor, August 5, 2024 – In a strong demonstration of international cooperation, IPB University and the French Embassy in Indonesia convened the 2nd International Fire Conference, bringing together experts and delegates from Malaysia, France, Brunei Darussalam, South Korea, and Thailand. The event served as a vital platform to strengthen global commitment in reducing greenhouse gas emissions caused by forest and land fires (Karhutla).
August 6, 2024
Forest fires and the resulting haze have become recurring environmental disasters in Southeast Asia, prompting international concern and action. These challenges have led to the formation of dedicated forums by global organizations to address fire management in high-risk regions—Indonesia included.
Bogor, June 24, 2024 – IPB University has marked another historic milestone with the official inauguration…
May 17, 2024
In recognition of outstanding efforts in forest and land fire prevention and commitment to creating cleaner air, the Faculty of Forestry and Environment (Fahutan) of IPB University has once again presented the Clean Air Champion Award. This year’s award also reached the national level, highlighting individuals and institutions making significant impacts across Indonesia.
The award ceremony was held at the IPB International Convention Center (IICC) in Bogor and was led by Prof Iskandar Z Siregar (Vice-Rector for Global Connectivity, Collaboration, and Alumni Affairs at IPB University), Prof Naresworo Nugroho (Dean of Fahutan), and Prof Bambang Hero Saharjo (Director of the Regional Fire Management Resource Center – Southeast Asia/RFMRC-SEA).
Based on Decree No. 39/IT3.F4/KP/2024, recipients of the award for the Kalimantan region included:
Akhmad Tamanuruddin (Kelurahan Kalampangan, Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan),
Kamison (Village Forest Management Institution/LPHD, Tuwung),
Sahat Irawan Manik, SH MM (Regional Division II, Kalimantan Fire Management Unit).
For Sumatra, Decree No. 40/IT3.F4/KP/2024 recognized:
Drs H Edward Candra, MH (Head of the South Sumatra Provincial Environmental and Land Office – Individual category),
Yozarwardi UP, SHut, MSi (Head of the West Sumatra Forestry Office – Group category),
Haris Suyanto (Manggala Agni Fire Brigade, Daops Sumatra XVII/OKI).
According to Prof Bambang Hero Saharjo, chair of the selection committee, candidates were assessed using strict criteria, including physical and mental fitness, high dedication, and a sincere work ethic. Most importantly, their working areas must have remained fire-free for at least two years (2022–2023), as verified by satellite data and field checks. In cases where fires occurred in 2022, demonstrable and successful efforts to reduce fire incidents in 2023 were also considered.
Additional indicators included proactive involvement in community training and outreach for community-based fire prevention programs (PLTB), and whether their areas had become references for forest fire control best practices. The selection process also received support from Senior Behavioural Scientists from Influence at Work (UK) Limited, ensuring objectivity and credibility.
The award ceremony was followed by a talk show featuring previous Clean Air Champion Award recipients. The session served as a platform to share experiences and strategies for effective fire prevention. Among the speakers were Muhammad Nur (Head of the West Kalimantan Environmental and Forestry Office), Maimun from Ketapang, West Kalimantan, and Andrean from Manggala Agni Daops Siak, Riau.
Participants and awardees also joined the Pesona Hijau Kampus (Campus Green Enchantment) event, a collaborative initiative between the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) and IPB University. The event was attended by the Minister and Secretary-General of KLHK, as well as university leaders.
During the event, IPB University and Field Indonesia launched a new PM2.5 air quality monitoring application and introduced a Fire Simulator, a product of collaborative research between IPB University and the French government, coordinated by the RFMRC.
Also present at the award ceremony were Dr Raffless Panjaitan (Advisor to the Minister of Environment and Forestry), representatives from the Directorate of Forest and Land Fire Control at KLHK, Field Indonesia, as well as other distinguished guests and award selection committee members.
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Photo: a. group photo committee, b. Particulate matter (PM) 2.5 application
November 27, 2023 – Bogor, Indonesia
In an inspiring step toward environmental protection and public awareness, IPB University has officially launched a new Android-based application that monitors air pollution and wildfire hotspots in real time. Developed by the Regional Fire Management Resource Center – South East Asia (RFMRC-SEA) in collaboration with the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) of IPB University, the app tracks levels of PM2.5, CO₂, and active fire hotspots.
May 24, 2023 – Porto, Portugal
IPB University’s Professor Bambang Hero Saharjo stood on the global stage as he represented Indonesia at the 8th International Wildland Fire Conference held recently in Porto, Portugal. Themed “Landscape Fire Governance Framework,” the prestigious conference brought together more than 1,600 participants from 88 countries, united by a shared commitment to tackling wildland fires and their far-reaching impacts.
Indonesia’s delegation included representatives from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), the Korea-Indonesia joint forest fire control project, and the Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry and Environment (Fahutan) IPB University, supported by the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO).
During the conference, Prof. Bambang presented a key research paper titled:
“Enhancing Policy Intervention for Forest Fire Management in Indonesia to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions.”
The study aimed to answer a long-standing question: Why do forest and land fire control efforts often fail to produce significant results in certain regions—even when implemented seriously and consistently?
“This research addresses the disconnect between policy, implementation, and results,” explained Prof. Bambang. “Despite many serious efforts, certain areas continue to suffer recurring fires. Understanding these patterns is essential for long-term solutions.”
In addition, Prof. Bambang also presented an e-poster titled:
“Forest and Land Fire Prevention Through Zero-Burning Practices by Rural Communities in Indonesia,”
highlighting how grassroots, no-burn agricultural techniques are playing a vital role in fire prevention strategies across rural Indonesia.
As Director of the Southeast Asia Wildland Fire Network, Prof. Bambang also delivered a situational report on fire occurrences and management efforts across ASEAN countries—including Indonesia. His presentation covered prevention strategies, fire suppression, and post-fire recovery, providing a comprehensive picture of the region’s challenges and progress.
“This conference, held every four years, builds on commitments made at the previous event in Campo Grande, Brazil, in 2019,” said Prof. Bambang, who also serves as Executive Director of the Regional Fire Management Resource Center–Southeast Asia (RFMRC-SEA).
The conference also served as a knowledge-sharing platform among major global institutions such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the European Union (EU), and the Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC)—alongside experts from a diverse range of countries, each facing unique fire-related challenges based on their geographic and ecological contexts.
“Events like this are critical,” Prof. Bambang noted. “They connect science with policy and practice, fostering collaboration across nations to solve one of the planet’s most pressing environmental crises—wildland fires.”
15 November 2022
From the green campus of Dramaga in Bogor, Indonesia, two distinguished professors of IPB University are now sharing their expertise thousands of miles away—in Montpellier, France. Professors Bambang Hero Saharjo and Lailan Syaufina, both from the Faculty of Forestry and Environment (Fahutan) at IPB University, were officially invited to teach at the University of Montpellier as part of a special international program on Forest and Land Fire Management.
The professors will be in France until December 10, 2022, bringing with them decades of academic experience and field knowledge on one of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges: wildfires.
Indonesian Academics on the Global Stage
This is not just an ordinary teaching assignment—it is part of a high-level collaboration involving top institutions such as the University of Brasília (Brazil), University of Lleida (Spain), University of Aveiro (Portugal), and PSL University (France), coordinated by Paris Sciences & Letters (PSL) and supported by Campus France.
“Two master’s students from IPB’s Tropical Silviculture program were selected to continue their studies for a full year in Montpellier. They are expected to earn dual master’s degrees from both IPB University and the University of Montpellier,” explained Prof Bambang.
As part of the program, students attend lectures, practical sessions, examinations, and study visits to research and training centers relevant to their coursework—just like in Indonesia, but in a different climate and context.
Tropical Insights in a Four-Season Setting
As guest lecturers, Professors Bambang and Lailan were invited by PSL University to deliver courses between November 6 and December 10, 2022. Their teaching focuses on forest and land fire prevention and control—an issue they’ve studied extensively in tropical settings like Indonesia.
“In France, fires can be caused by natural factors like lightning,” said Prof Bambang. “But in Indonesia, 99.9% of wildfires are human-induced.” This stark contrast forms the basis of meaningful discussions during the course, enriching students’ understanding of fire dynamics in different ecosystems.
He also pointed out that while wildfires in France may not attract much global attention, peatland fires in Indonesia are of major concern due to their massive greenhouse gas emissions and the challenges in extinguishing them.
A Long-Term Partnership for Fire Prevention
This program is part of a broader collaboration between IPB University and the French Embassy in Jakarta, under a project titled Rainforest and Peatland Fires Center of Excellence. The initiative, coordinated by Jean Michel Dumaz—a civil protection regional expert based at the French Embassy in Singapore—runs from June 29, 2022, through 2026.
“The goal is to establish a center of excellence that equips professionals with the knowledge and skills to manage forest and land fires effectively, across various climate zones,” said Prof Bambang, who also serves as Executive Director of the Regional Fire Management Resource Center – Southeast Asia (RFMRC-SEA).
Looking Ahead
As wildfires become an increasingly global problem, this international master’s program aims to grow and include more participants from countries affected by forest and land fires. Students will benefit from the exchange of ideas and experiences—whether from the four seasons of Europe or the tropical landscapes of Southeast Asia and South America.
The presence of two IPB professors in France is a clear testament that Indonesian forestry science is not only recognized globally but is also contributing meaningfully to collaborative solutions for a greener planet.
From Dramaga to Montpellier, this academic journey reminds us that knowledge travels far—and can ignite change where it’s needed most.
Jason Loh and Anis Salwana Abdul Malik
TRANSBOUNDARY haze affecting Malaysia has been an ongoing problem for decades, and is mainly caused by forest fires due
to agricultural techniques known as “slash-and-burn” from across the border (whether land, i.e. Kalimantan or
cross-straits, e.g. Riau). The root cause of this is the burning of peat lands for cultivation, which takes place especially during the drought season. This is when peat soil becomes flammable and fire spreads easily.
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On 29 June 2022, the LoA between the French Embassy and Timor Leste in Indonesia was successfully signed, represented by Jean-Michel DUMAZ (The Civil Protection Regional Expert, localized in the French Embassy to Singapore) and Prof. Dodik Ridho Nurrohmat (Vice-Rector). for International Affairs, Collaboration, and Alumni Relations) representing IPB University. The collaboration is about “RAINFORESTS AND PEATLANDS FIRES CENTER of EXCELLENCE”.
This project aims to support IPB for science-based education and training capabilities development in the field of peatland and forest fires prevention, contingency, and suppression. The French Embassy will implement through the project a pluriannual program for expertise sharing, that will include a Master’s degree education in France, several trainings of trainers (ToT) activities, digital solutions for education implementation, equipment for field fire response procurement.
The project is qualified as Centre of Excellence (CoE) for the enhanced expertise shared, and for the innovative education tools implemented, as virtual reality, simulation and learning management systems. Physically located in Bogor in IPB facilities, the CoE will deliver from the expertise shared from France, education programs for the Indonesian community involved in forest and peatland fires management. The CoE will also implement education sessions for the ASEAN and overseas countries, in particular those having similar forest and peatland and strongly affected by fires
Areas of Cooperation
The development of the cooperation regarding the development of the rainforest and peatland fires center of excellence will particularly focus on the following areas:
Forms of Cooperation
In each afore-mentioned area, the cooperation may result in:
− Sharing of knowledge, expertise, and best practices,
− Higher education and research partnerships,
− Provision of experts, instructors, and specialist for training and technical assistance,
− Exchange of experts or trainees in the framework of study visits or training activities,
− Participation in meetings, conferences, or seminars,
− Implementation of digital tool for learning and education,
− Supply of equipment for field trainings and experiments
The cooperation that the Signatories intend to implement will be developed for a period of five (05) years from the date of the signing of the present Agreement. It may be extended for further periods of five (05) years provided the Signatories jointly express such an intent. The Signatories may decide to put an end to this cooperation, by notifying the other Signatory of this intention three (03) months in advance.
As a follow-up to the above collaboration, training activities on “Fire Behavior Analyst” have been carried out for 4 days from 4 to 7 July 2022 which take place from 13.00 to 17.00 every day. The training was provided by French fire experts, namely Sebastien LAHAYE, Xavier JOSEPH and Jean-Michel DUMAZ. The training was officially opened by Jean-Michel Dumaz, and the Executive Director of the Regional Fire Management Resource Center-Southeast Asia Prof. Dr. Ir. Bambang Hero Saharjo, M.Agr. The training was facilitated by the Regional Fire Management Resource Center-Southeast Asia followed by IPB University (Faculty of Forestry and Environment), BNPB, BPBD South Sumatra, BPBD North Sumatra, Directorate of Forest and Land Fire Control, Directorate General of PPI, Ministry of Environment and Forestry; and the Sumatra Regional Land and Forest Fire Climate Change Control Center.
The training is carried out in English assisted by a translator into Indonesian, making it easier to understand the material presented. The training is carried out online with the support of training materials written in English. During the training, discussions were held related to the material provided which was related to the conditions and efforts made by the government.
On the final day of the training, a questionnaire with 20 questions related to the material provided was held in order to understand the extent to which the participants had understood the material presented by experts from France and its implications for fire control efforts carried out by the government. As a final word, all participants were happy with the material provided and not a few of the material provided was something new for them, so not a few of the participants suggested that this training be continued, including the training carried out in the field. As a form of attendance of the training participants, the French Embassy gave a certificate.
