TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar revealed that the forest and land fire throughout 2016 have successfully been reduced. This can be seen by the number of hot spots that has dropped compared to the previous year.
Based on NOAA satellite observation, the number of hot spots has been reduced by 82 percent. Meanwhile, the Terra-Aqua satellite shows that it is down by 90 percent. “The 2016 evaluation is great,” she said on Friday, December 16, 2016.
The index of air pollution standards (ISPU) in 2016 only reached moderate levels.
The Minister stated that based on the end of October 2016's data, there were 190,000 hectares on fire. “Last year was more than two million,” she said.
Siti regretted that many people and even the neighboring countries view the success of her institution in reducing forest fire was due to the high rain intensity.
According to her, the government together with the National Armed Forces (TNI) and Police have never stopped their attempt in coping with forest fires.
AHMAD FAIZ
