Environment Minister Leads Forest and Land Fire Control Roll Call in Riau

Pekanbaru - The Republic of Indonesia’s Minister for the Environment, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, led a roll call for forest and land fire control at the PT Pertamina Hulu Rokan Football Field in Rumbai, Pekanbaru City, Riau Province, on Saturday. In his address, Minister Hanif stated that this roll call is a continuation of the one held in March, led by Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Djamari Chaniago. The activity forms part of a series of early preparations for tackling forest and land fires through a “road show” to vulnerable areas, particularly the six main provinces. “The six main provinces have a relatively high potential for forest and land fires compared to other provinces. This readiness is very important amid the weather projections from the BMKG, which indicate that this year we will collectively enter a relatively long dry season,” he said. Participants in the roll call came from firefighting squads from government and companies, including the Sumatra Forest Fire Control Team, PT PHR, the Indonesian Palm Oil Entrepreneurs Association (GAPKI), and the Indonesian Forest Entrepreneurs Association (APHI). “In April, parts of our territory in several climate zones in the country will enter the dry season. It is projected that in June, July, and August, there will be a peak dry period that will only end in October, meaning we will collectively experience seven months in the dry season,” he explained. He added that seven months is a relatively very long period and it will not be easy to handle forest and land fires. If preparations are not made from the start, efforts will be overwhelmed, especially compounded by the El Niño climate phenomenon occurring simultaneously with the dry season. “Although the El Niño is at a low to moderate level, with this sufficiently long duration, the potential for forest and land fires will tend to increase. There will also be a tendency for water vapour or rainfall to become increasingly scarce,” he stated. Meanwhile, General Manager of PT PHR Rokan Zone, Andre Widjanarko, said his company has also prepared heavy equipment fleets on the field. This represents their commitment as a corporation to protect state assets while securing the living space for communities in Riau Province. “We are ready to fully support the ‘relief fire response’ activities, which is the central government’s main strategy. Let us together safeguard workplace safety while realising a safe living environment,” he said.