Category: Activities RFMRC-SEA

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.

Bogor – West Java , 9 July 2022
Author: Bambang Hero Saharjo

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:

1. a) Education and training, skills, and expertise development
2. b) Knowledge management,
3. c) Learning tools and systems
4. d) Fires data collection and Lessons learned
5. e) Scientist cooperation

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.