7-6-2023 (JAKARTA) Indonesia is preparing for a potential surge in forest and land fires this year as scientists anticipate the return of the El Nino weather phenomenon in the latter half of 2023, according to the Indonesian National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).
Abdul Muhari, a spokesman for BNPB, revealed an increasing trend in forest and land fires, even during the transition from the rainy to dry season. The number of reported cases rose from four in early May to 16 by early June, primarily occurring in parts of Sumatra and the Indonesian side of Borneo.
Considering the current situation during the transitional period, Muhari expressed concern about the intensification of fires during the peak of the dry season.
Forest and land fires in Indonesia have long been responsible for hazardous haze that spreads across neighbouring countries, such as Singapore, Malaysia, and parts of Thailand, adversely affecting the health of millions of people.
The most significant forest and land fires occurred in 2019 when over 162,000 hectares of peatlands and forests were engulfed, emitting a staggering 624 million tonnes of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, as reported by BNPB.
The 2019 fires coincided with two weather phenomena: El Nino in the Pacific and the positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) event. This combination led to a prolonged drought in Indonesia, with warmer temperatures in the western part of the Indian Ocean pushing air away from the country.
However, forest and land fires have significantly decreased over the past three years due to the La Nina weather phenomenon, which brought increased rainfall. In 2022, the fires affected approximately 20,000 hectares of land, significantly less than the 2019 figures, according to BNPB data.
Nevertheless, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned of the potential return of the warm weather phenomenon El Nino this year. WMO models suggest a possible positive IOD event, which could exacerbate the drying effect of El Nino.
Urip Haryoko, a climatologist at Indonesia’s Meteorological, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), stated that Indonesia might experience an extended dry season lasting until March or April of next year. He added that the driest period would be in September and October when the sun is closest to the equator.
To tackle the potential fire risk, BNPB spokesperson Muhari emphasized the need for preparedness and prevention measures. The agency will concentrate its efforts on six provinces: South Sumatra, Jambi, Riau, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan, known to be susceptible to forest and land fires.
Among these provinces, four have already declared forest and land fire emergencies, granting central government officials the authority to intervene and allocate necessary resources.
Preventing fires from starting and containing them at an early stage are crucial, especially in peatland areas where fire can smolder beneath the surface for months, emitting smoke and significant amounts of CO2.
Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry, in collaboration with other institutions, is implementing various strategies to combat fires. Cloud seeding, a weather modification technique to enhance rain production, will be conducted to promote rain in peatland areas. Additionally, joint patrols with the military and civilian volunteers are being carried out to swiftly respond to reports of forest fires.
Efforts are also underway to assess high-risk provinces’ capacity in terms of manpower, equipment, and infrastructure for effective fire mitigation.
While the threat of forest and land fires looms, Indonesia remains committed to proactive measures, aiming to prevent and combat fires through early detection, mitigation, and community involvement.
