Indonesia prepares for forest fire season
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Indonesia’s Forestry Minister, Siti Nurbaya Bakar Antoni, confirmed the country is prepared to mitigate forest and land fires, particularly in conservation areas like Way Kambas National Park in Lampung.
The government uses a system called SiPongi to monitor fires and deploys teams of firefighters, along with vehicles and helicopter water-bombing missions. They also employ weather modification operations to help prevent fires from spreading. Antoni emphasized protecting wildlife during fire suppression, stating that these animals are a valuable asset.
Way Kambas National Park is changing its management structure to become a Public Service Agency to improve financial stability and governance. The park currently has 17 members of the Manggala Agni brigade and 44 forest rangers ready to respond. They have access to vehicles, pump sets, and firefighting extinguishers. Antoni inspected this equipment with the Norwegian Ambassador to Indonesia, Kaja Glomm, to confirm readiness for the fire season.
