“We hope Jambi will become a model in efforts to anticipate forest and land fires, where forest and land fire cases have consistently declined each year,” Siddiq said during a visit to the province on Saturday.
In line with President Prabowo Subianto’s directives, the Ministry of Forestry is committed to preserving forests, he emphasized.
He said that ahead of this year’s dry season, his ministry has been actively checking regional readiness, including in Kalimantan and Sumatra, to ensure that equipment and personnel are on standby to respond to potential wildfires.
He praised private companies for helping channel water from the Batanghari River into canals using centrifugal pumps to wet the Londerang Peat Protected Forest.
He described the move as a strategic step for protecting peatlands from fire.
Siddiq also emphasized the importance of fostering awareness and cooperation among all stakeholders, starting from the government and private companies to communities, to preserve Indonesia’s forests as the “lungs of the world.”
Collaboration to anticipate forest and land fires must also be stepped up in other fire-prone regions such as Kalimantan, South Sumatra, and Riau, he added.
“(Efforts must be made) To educate communities about the dangers of wildfires. The governor of Jambi will also soon organize a forest and land fire preparedness preparation routine,” he said.
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Translator: Nanang, Kenzu
Editor: Arie Novarina
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