Environment Minister builds canal barriers in Kuala Kampar to mitigate forest and land fires

Bencana lahan terbakar pada dasarnya bencana alami, tetapi kita terus memastikan ada air yang terus menggenangi

Pelalawan, Riau (ANTARA) - Minister of Environment/Head of the Environmental Control Agency Moh Jumhur Hidayat built canal barriers in Mendol Village, Kuala Kampar District, Pelalawan Regency, Riau, as a measure to mitigate forest and land fires.

“(The construction of canal barriers) shows that a collective movement to inundate with water and build dams to retain water is part of handling forest and land fires,” said Environment Minister Jumhur Hidayat in Pelalawan while participating in building the canal with residents on Thursday.

Jumhur stressed that in various regions across the country, the existence of peatlands is a fact, because if peatlands are continuously exposed to sunlight, they have the potential to heat up and catch fire.

“Land fires are fundamentally a natural disaster, but we continue to ensure there is water constantly inundating,” he said.

“Planting trees is part of an ecological repentance as our effort to continue protecting and preserving the environment so that residents can coexist,” he explained.

During his visit, Environment Minister Jumhur was accompanied by Pelalawan Regent Zukri Misran, Riau Police Chief Herry Heryawan, representatives of the Riau Provincial Government, and the National Disaster Management Agency. Collaborative efforts are needed to jointly protect the community’s environment from forest and land fires and drought.

Pelalawan Regent Zukri emphasised that residents’ contributions are also necessary to overcome forest and land fires through the construction of these canal barriers.

“We must not only rely on the government; let us work together to maintain these canal barriers, what exists for the benefit of the community’s shared welfare,” he said.