As part of our fire preparedness measures in June, we teamed up with the Sebangau National Park Agency and community members from Kereng Bangkirai to clear passage along a patrol route on the Koran River that had become overgrown with pampanan, or rasau trees (Pandanus helicopus). Pampanan grows quickly in the humid peat-swamp forest, forming dense thickets that, unchecked, can block off entire waterways. In the Sebangau National Park, regular patrols are conducted to ensure rapid fire detection and response, so it is vital that all routes are cleared for emergency access.

BTNS and BNF’s Indonesia with the community in Kereng Bengkirai was cleaned the pampanan together for the patrol route
Photo by Joan Prahara/BNF

According to BNF Indonesia’s Integrated Fire Management (IFM) Coordinator, Astria Yayanty, the pampananbuild-up is preventing community patrol and firefighting teams from accessing this part of the forest, which could spell disaster in the event of a fire.

“When there is pampanan overgrowth like this, it’s very difficult for the teams to get through. If fires are detected, we need to act fast and extinguish them before they have a chance to spread out of control,” he explained.

Forest fires loom large when the dry season comes

Community firefighting teams leap into action
Photo by Desi Natalia/BNF

According to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) of Central Kalimantan Province in Indonesian Borneo, the conditions we’re currently experiencing are typical of this time of year and not yet influenced by El Niño weather conditions, which have been predicted later this year.

“[the current conditions] are influenced by several factors, such as low levels of humidity in the air and the absence of wind convergence across Central Kalimantan. These factors also decrease the potential for rain cloud formation,” said the Central Kalimantan BMKG forecaster, Alfandy.

He explained that the potential for forest and land fires is also determined by multiple factors – most importantly, by burning carried out as part of human activities – and so climatic conditions alone cannot tell us exact risk of fires occurring.

“What we all need to know is that the government and related organizations are continuing their efforts to extinguish forest and land fires and issuing strict reminders not to burn.”

Community firefighters extinguishing a peat fire
Photo by Desi Natalia/BNF

The Head of the Regional Disaster Management Agency for the City of Palangka Raya, Emi Abriyani, reported that, as of August 11, there had been 105 hotspots recorded in Palangka Raya during 2023.

He appealed to the public not to clear land by burning, as the receding water levels and dry conditions pose additional challenges for officers in the event of a fire.

The actual distribution of hotspots can be seen through the official channel of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) Fire Hotspots, or Sipongi.

Written by Yohanes Prahara, Content Creator and Media Liaison BNF Indonesia.