Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — South Sumatra has become a hotspot for forest and land fires (karhutla), drawing attention from Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).
Lieutenant General Suharyanto, head of BNPB, highlighted the province as one of the most severely affected areas during the ongoing fire crisis.
He expressed concerns over the rising costs of firefighting, particularly helicopter water-bombing operations, which have become a frequent necessity in the region.
Suharyanto revealed that South Sumatra is often targeted by helicopter water-bombing service providers because of the vast areas impacted by forest fires.
“The country has to spend substantial resources on these air task force operations,” Suharyanto stated on Thursday, October 3, 2024.
The financial burden of such operations, according to him, is unsustainable in the long term.
In an effort to shift the focus toward prevention, Suharyanto urged local task forces and government officials to change their mindset.
He emphasized that the fires should not be allowed to benefit certain parties, particularly those profiting from firefighting contracts, while local communities bear the brunt of the devastation.
The BNPB chief also pointed out a troubling reality: “Ninety-nine percent of these forest and land fires are caused by human actions,” Suharyanto reported.
Illegal land-clearing practices, including the deliberate use of fire, remain widespread. Many see these methods as cost-effective, even though they are strictly prohibited by law.
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To address this, Suharyanto called for stronger law enforcement. He believes that imposing stricter penalties and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations are essential steps toward reducing the occurrence of forest fires in South Sumatra and other vulnerable regions across Indonesia.
By curbing illegal practices and focusing on prevention, Suharyanto hopes to alleviate the environmental, financial, and human toll that these fires have caused.
(Ray)
