"Currently, (we are) formulating the creation of the Lampung province forest and land fire task force," head of the Forestry Office of Lampung Yanyan Ruchyansyah said here on Saturday.
The creation of the task force is aimed at anticipating fire incidents and preparing for the handling of forest fires, he informed.
"Thus, the tasks of this forest and land fire task force will start from the prevention to the handling of potential forest fires in Lampung," he said.
Later, the provincial government will encourage the formation of the forest and land fire task force at the district and city levels, he informed.
"The Lampung Governor has also asked and encouraged the creation of a similar task force in 15 districts and cities in Lampung as a form of anticipatory measure even though incidents of forest and land fires here are relatively low," he said.
He further said that the low potential for forest fires in Lampung is due to the relatively small peatland area in the province.
"There are peatlands, but small, so the (incidence of) forest fires is not as high," he added.
According to him, forest fires usually occur in Way Kambas National Park in East Lampung, but they are still controllable.
With the formation of the forest and land fire task force, it is hoped that it can prevent and detect early hotspots that can cause forest fires, he said.
Based on data provided by the Forestry Office of Lampung, in 2022, the spread of hotspots in the province declined by 392. In 2021, the number of hotspots was recorded at 3,345, and in 2022, the figure stood at 2,953.
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Translator: Ruth Intan, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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