BNPB: Human Activities Primary Causes of Forest Fires in Indonesia

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) stated that 99 percent of forest and land fires, or Karhutla, in Indonesia are caused by human activities.

“Prevention is difficult when human intent is involved. The alternative effort [to prevent the fires] is law enforcement, but there must be strengthened surveillance in real-time,” the agency’s Head of Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Center, Abdul Muhari, said in a discussion held by the Auriga Nusantara Foundation, on Wednesday, August 7, 2024.

According to him, fire starters are usually nearby when the fire is first detected so immediate information on hotspots must not be delayed. He highlighted the current satellite-based system which has a 3-6 hour delay. “Data is crucial when talking about prevention,” he stressed.

The BNPB noted that forest and land fires were Indonesia's most frequent disaster in 2023, accounting for 2,051 out of 5,400 total disasters. 

Muhari explained that the causes of fires in Indonesia are different from those of other countries, such as the United States where lightning sparks 30% of fires.

Additionally, weather anomaly complicates Indonesia's fire management. For example, Aceh Province could experience both flash floods and forest fires simultaneously during the peak of the rainy season in February.

IRSYAN HASYIM (CONTRIBUTOR)

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