JAKARTA – Indonesia managed to reduce forest and land fires (Karhutla) during 2023 by 30.80% compared to those of 2019 with almost the same impact of El-Nino but weather condition in 2023 was drier, the ministry of environment and forestry (KLHK) reported.

The ministry’s Climate Change Control Director General Laksmi Dhewanthi said that the total areas affected by Karhutla until October 2023 are 994,313.18 hectares (Ha). “In 2023 there were 11 provinces prone to Karhutla. “The 11 provinces include South Sumatera, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan where preventive measures had been implemented since early year after being detected that long dry season was coming as a result of the El Nino impact,” Laksmi said during a discussion on the reflection of performance in 2023 at Manggala Wanabakti’s Dr. Soedjarwo Auditorium recently in Jakarta.

Laksmi said that in anticipating the dry season in 2023, they had intensified patrols under collaborations with the military, police, Fire Care Society (MPA) and other related stakeholders, and launched the operations of weather modification technology.

“The risks of Karhutla as the largest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in Indonesia should be minimized,” said Laksmi.

Laksmi noted that the success to reduce the Karhutla was also proven by the absence of cross-border smoke to neighboring countries. Indonesia, as the host of ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Trans-boundary Haze Pollution Control (ACCTHPC) in Jakarta, facilitates and strengthens cooperation in tackling the haze problem in ASEAN region.

“Controlling the Karhutla is part of Indonesia’s commitment to reach target of updated nationally determined contribution (NDC) and Indonesia FOLU Net Sink 2030 through collaborations at national, regional and international levels,” said Laksmi. (*)

Source: menlhk.go.id/ sawitindonesia.com