Greenpeace: Prevention-based strengthening needed to face El Nino threat

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Climate organisation Greenpeace Indonesia is urging the government to optimise prevention-based solutions and the protection of production land and swamp-peatland ecosystems to strengthen national resilience in facing the threat of the El Nino phenomenon.

Greenpeace Indonesia Climate and Energy Campaigner Yuyun Harmono stated in Jakarta on Friday that Indonesia has a significant opportunity to effectively reduce the risk of drought and land and forest fires if it prioritises early mitigation measures.

"Prevention is the most crucial key. With strong indications of El Nino, scientists have warned that focusing on mitigation will be far more efficient and sustainable than relying solely on efforts after a disaster occurs," he said.

Yuyun explained that the protection and restoration of ecosystems, not only productive agricultural land but also swamps and peatlands, are vital. Efforts to rewet drying land through ground watering and canal irrigation are considered far more effective in maintaining moisture while significantly preventing drought and the potential emergence of hotspots.

Furthermore, Greenpeace advises the government to continue strengthening environmental permit governance through regular audits to ensure that conservation areas and important ecosystems are protected from risky land conversion. Based on the experience and findings of this national non-governmental organisation focused on environmental and climate preservation, many peatlands have been converted into oil palm plantations or lie abandoned outside concession areas.

"What preventive measures can be taken? For example, permit audits, so that there are no more overlapping permits in peatland areas," he said.

Yuyun also stressed the importance of fair and firm law enforcement instruments for concession owners as an advanced preventive step, so that all stakeholders have a high commitment to protecting their areas from fire risk.

"Secondly, we then talk about law enforcement, which is the final step when a fire occurs, for example in a concession area, an oil palm concession or an industrial timber plantation concession. The concession owner must be held accountable, and this must have a deterrent effect," he said.