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.
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.
The Interior Ministry has detected 15,716 hotspots which cause haze so far this year.
Sutthipong Chulcharoen, permanent secretary of the Interior Ministry, said that from Jan 1 to March 20 there were 15,716 hotspots including 6,757 in national forest reserves, 4,594 in conservation forests and 2,172 in farmland.
The most hotspots in the North amounted to 2,823 in Mae Hong Son province, followed by 1,971 hotspots in Lampang and 1,665 in Chiang Mai.
In the corresponding period last year there were 51,536 hotspots. This year’s hotspots dropped by 35,820 or 69.50%.
Mr Sutthipong said the Interior Ministry instructed governors of all provinces, especially those in 17 Northern provinces, to monitor local forest fires, hotspots and haze situations, improve response plans and order organizations concerned to take legal action strictly to limit haze. (TNA)
Chiang Mai Provincial Governor Prachon Prachsakul has ordered local officials and relevant agencies to assist in containing the spread of forest fires at Ob Khan national park in the province.
About 35 fire fighters from the national park and the Mirror Foundation, who have been battling the fires, have complained that there are not enough of them to cope with the fires, which have been burning for more than three days and stretch for about three kilometres through the forest in the park.
Without timely reinforcements, they have expressed concern that the entire 6,000 hectare forest may be wiped out.
The line of fires is located far from communities, but satellite images have detected many hot spots, many of them close together.
Nipaporn Paisarn, the national park chief, said that damage to the forest cannot be assessed yet.
According to the governor, the fires are concentrated in four locations in the park and men from Hang Dong district office have already been sent to battle the fires.
Meanwhile in the neighbouring province of Mae Hong Son, the level of PM2.5 dust in the atmosphere is beyond safety limits due to fires in the province and in Myanmar.
2,000 hot spots have been detected in Myanmar and 800 in Mae Hong Son from satellite images.
Most fires in Thailand’s northern provinces were man-made, when farmers burn farm waste or when villagers set fires in forests to help them hunt for wildlife.
BANGKOK, Feb 6 (The Nation Thailand/ANN): Tourists were evacuated when a forest fire broke out on Laem Krating Cape in Phuket’s Rawai subdistrict on Saturday night (Feb 5).
Mae Hong Son Governor Sithichai Jindaluang, accompanied by the Pai district village headman and local government officials, inspected the district on Wednesday after a series of wildfires there after 155 heat points were detected and the River Fire Control Station was called in to tackle several blazes.
PHITSANULOK: Local firefighters are combating a forest fire that broke out on Saturday, razing an area of about 500 rai in this central northern province.
Much of the destruction to Indonesia’s forests and peatlands have taken place behind the veil of COVID-19 restrictions, says Greenpeace’s Kiki Taufik.
BY :TIUR RUMONDANG | OCTOBER 09, 2020 Many living in Southeast Asia – and even…
JAKARTA – Indonesia will likely have fewer land and forest fires this year because the dry season will be wetter in most parts of the country compared with last year, the head of Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said on Thursday (Aug 13).