East Kalimantan Forestry Service Allocates Rp19 Billion in FCPF Carbon Funds for Forest Fire Mitigation
The Forestry Service of East Kalimantan Province is optimising the use of carbon funding from the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility, amounting to approximately Rp19 billion. The funds are allocated to strengthen mitigation and emergency response operations for forest and land fires in the region.
Acting Head of the East Kalimantan Forestry Service, Rusmadi, explained that the FCPF carbon fund allocation is prioritised to support the essential needs of frontline officers and volunteers. The primary focus of the funding is operational support to anticipate the peak fire risk period predicted for September.
“This fund is focused on operational support to anticipate the peak fire risk,” said Rusmadi in Samarinda on Tuesday (18/8).
Forest area monitoring in East Kalimantan faces significant challenges given its vast expanse of approximately 7.8 million hectares. Currently, the number of forest police officers available in the region is very limited, at only 94 personnel. This ratio is considered disproportionate to the area that must be protected from threats including illegal logging, encroachment, illegal mining, and forest fires.
To address these limitations, the East Kalimantan Forestry Service is mobilising local community participation as the frontline of monitoring at the site level. Based on current data, the regional government has placed personnel on standby.
Synergy between the community, the Indonesian National Armed Forces, and the Indonesian National Police is a key pillar in safeguarding the ecosystem of “Benua Etam”. The government has also equipped volunteers with standard gear such as fire-resistant clothing, hats, medicines, and other technical equipment to ensure their safety while on duty.
Facing geographical challenges and water source crises during the peak dry season, officers are placing folding water tanks in several fire-prone areas. In addition to ground teams, aerial operations using helicopters from the Regional Disaster Management Agency are prepared to reach fire hotspots that are difficult to access.
These anticipatory measures have been further tightened following two fire incidents in the Bukit Soeharto Grand Forest Park, which is part of the Nusantara Capital City area.