Jokowi Expects to See Fewer Forest Fires This Year
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Kamis, 1 Januari 1970 07:00 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko “Joko Widodo” Widodo has called for fewer forest fires in 2017. Jokowi referred to peatland fires in 2015 that hurt both the economy and people’s health.
“I think everybody remembers the fires in 2015, we were struggling,” Jokowi said in his opening address in a meeting on forest fires at the State Palace on Monday, January 23, 2017.
Jokowi said that the government will step up preventive measures to avoid recurrence of forest fires.
The President has lauded the successful attempts to lower the amount of land burned as of December 2016 by 83.21 percent compared to 2015. Some 2.6 million hectares of land were burned in 2015.
Joko Widodo said that early detection may be carried out through joint patrols, infrastructure inspections, and swift decision-making in the event of hot spot detection.
According to Jokowi, private firms also play important role in preventing forest fires. “I urge private companies to help [prevent fires] after given concessions. To preserve, take care, safeguard the area,” the President said.
ADITYA BUDIMAN