JAKARTA – There is no denying that Indonesia has seen cases of forest and land fires (Karhutla) across the archipelagic country. But factually, there is no vindicating that such cases in Indonesia are worse if compared to other countries.

Groups of anti-palm oil NGOs at home and abroad, which many are affiliated with the producing countries of other vegetable oils (as competitors of palm oil), have always tried to tarnish the image of palm oil by accusing Indonesia’s oil palm plantations as the cause of the Karhutla.

They made up such issues and spread them through a network of newspapers, television, radio and social media platforms across the globe. They framed the huge global concern on the Karhutla in Indonesia as if such fires are only specific phenomenon to Indonesia.

Drawing from such exaggeration issue, there should be a consideration on the empirical data of Karhutla phenomenon in Indonesia and data on the same phenomenon in other countries.

Karhutla cases are not only specific to Indonesia, as the cases also occurred in other countries across the globe. Whatever the causes, the fires always cause losses, affect human health, biodiversity loss, and air pollution. That is why the Karhutla must be prevented. But in fact, Karhutla has always impacted various countries in the world and affected global climate change.

During period of 2011-2021 (photo-1), areas affected by Karhutla per year in the USA were the largest if compared to those in Europe and Indonesia. The average area affected by Karhutla per year in USA reached around 4.0 million hectares. The average area affected by Karhutla per year in Russia reached around 2.0 million hectares. The average area affected by Karhutla per year in Indonesia and Europe was relatively the same at around 0.5 million hectares.

Generally, the largest area affected by Karhutla was seen during El-Nino. Indonesia saw a heavy impact of El-Nino during 2015 – 2019 (PASPI Monitor, 2020j; Harsoyo and Athohilah, 2022).

It seems that the phenomenon of Karhutla in every country, developed and developing ones, is not only linked to the issue of forest and land governance. The above facts show that developed countries, such as USA, Russia, and European countries, which have advanced technology and best equipment, good management capacity, bureaucratic discipline, adequate financing, and ethos of capable society, are not enough in preventing Karhutla every year. There are other variables that are seemingly beyond human control.

Even the Karhutla cases are not related to the existence of certain commodities and plantations, such as the oil palm plantations. The developed countries like USA, Russia and European countries, which have no oil palm plantations, saw relatively higher cases of Karhutla compared to Indonesia.

References:

• Harsoyo B, Athoillah I. 2022. New paradigm in using weather modification technology to deal with Karhutla in Indonesia. Jurnal Sains & Teknologi Modifikasi Cuaca. 23(1): 1-9
• PASPI Monitor. 2020j. The Facts Behind Issues of Forest and Land Fires in Indonesia That Incriminating The Palm Oil Industry. Palm Oil Journal Analysis of Palm Oil Strategic Issues. 1(13): 75-82. (*)

Source:  Palm Oil Myth & Facts (Mitos 6-22)