Long-term solution to forest fires<\/p>\n
Since the start of the current forest fires much has been
\nwritten about their direct effects to people's health and the
\nenvironment. However, nothing was said about long-term solutions
\nto the fires until an interview with Mr. Neil Byron, Assistant
\nDirector General of the Center for Forestry Research (Expert
\ncalls for long-term solutions to forest fires) was published in
\nThe Jakarta Post on Oct. 8. Mr. Byron stated that in spite of the
\nfact that El Nio was predicted some time ago, virtually no
\nprecautions were taken to deal with its potential effects.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto called for precautions to be taken against
\nthe predicted drought which could cause forest fires when he
\nspoke during a ceremony to celebrate the "Regreening and National
\nNature Conservation Day", in West Kalimantan on Dec. 23, 1996. He
\nordered governors and district heads to cooperate to prevent
\nfires in forests and agricultural land and to implement correct
\nforest management to ensure that the national demand for wood
\nwould always be met, while at the same time preserving forests.
\nApparently nothing happened.<\/p>\n
Although Mr. Byron's statement that no precautions were taken
\nis correct, he does not give an indication what the long-term
\nsolutions he calls for could or should contain.<\/p>\n
As a foreign expert working for the European Union financed
\nForest Fire Prevention and Control Project under the provincial
\nforestry office in Palembang, I want to clarify a few matters:<\/p>\n
The most common source of wildfire and smoke originates from
\nladang (the burning of forests to clear farming areas). It is
\npracticed by small farmers and large forestry estates alike. In
\nspite of the fact that burning is a bad habit and should be
\nlimited to the absolute minimum, I have to admit that fire is
\nstill man's cheapest and easiest way of getting rid of unwanted
\nvegetative matter. The practice will therefore always continue as
\nlong as there are no alternative cheap techniques.<\/p>\n
A long-term solution to reduce ladang practiced by small
\nfarmers could be to encourage them to abandon their rotational
\nsystem by changing the law on land tenure. Farmers who can claim
\ntitle to their land would invest in their land by improving its
\nquality through farm inputs, which would result in higher yields.
\nA precondition is that the government should assist these farm
\nupgrades by improving the socio-economic conditions in rural
\nareas by providing access to knowledge, farm credit, farm inputs
\nand markets. The extension of services from the ministries of
\nagriculture and forestry through training and incentives is
\nimperative.<\/p>\n
Large forestry estates, which need to destroy unwanted
\nbiomass, could improve their operations by making use of portable
\nincinerators which have been designed and marketed in Malaysia
\nspecially for clearing land.<\/p>\n
Moreover, the present system that issues operating permits
\n(surat ijin) to the large forestry estates which do not have an
\nEnvironmental Impact Assessment report, should be amended.
\nForestry estates who do possess such a report should be obliged
\nto put the recommendations of the report into practice.<\/p>\n
To facilitate fire fighting, our project is in the process of
\nestablishing a fire early warning system using the data received
\nby a satellite receiving station in Palembang. The system is
\ndesigned to guide well-trained fire fighting organizations on the
\nground through efficient radio communications.<\/p>\n
Much can be done by the government and private organizations
\nalike to create an environment and infrastructure in which the
\nnecessity for large scale burning is reduced.<\/p>\n
G.P.A. COSIJN<\/p>\n
FFPCP Consultant<\/p>\n
Palembang, South Sumatra<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/long-term-solution-to-forest-fires-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }