"According to NASA's Terra Aqua satellite data, there were 142 hotspots with a high confidence level. Based on field data, there were 97 incidents of forest and land fires," Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq stated in Jakarta on Thursday.
The minister made the statement during a coordination meeting with the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) and regional governments.
Areas recorded to have experienced land fires so far include Aceh, Riau, Riau Islands, Jambi, West Kalimantan, and Central Kalimantan.
On that occasion, he emphasized the importance of preventing land fires, including measures that palm oil plantation area managers must take.
Prevention and anticipation are crucial, as the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has announced that several regions in Indonesia have now entered the dry season.
The Ministry of Environment is particularly focusing on regions prone to land fires, including Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Riau, Jambi, West Kalimantan, and several areas in Sulawesi and Papua.
During Thursday's meeting, Nurofiq also expressed appreciation for the steps taken so far to prevent land fires.
However, he reminded palm oil plantation companies to further intensify efforts to prevent land fires.
This is necessary since, based on data processed during the 2015-2024 period, almost 42 thousand hectares of plantation land managed by 79 companies were burned, with some areas experiencing recurring incidents.
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Translator: Prisca Triferna, Raka Adji
Editor: Primayanti
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