Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Minister of Environment and Forestry (MenLHK) Siti Nurbaya revealed that the area of ​​forest and land fires (karhutla) that hit Indonesia in 2023 will reach 994,313.18 hectares (ha).

This figure, he said, decreased drastically compared to the area of ​​forest and land fires in 2019. In 2019 and 2023, the El Nino climate phenomenon occurred in Indonesia. Namely, conditions where an anomalous increase in temperature occurs, triggering a dry season that is extremely hot and extremely dry compared to the usual dry season.

Compared to 2019 (El Nino), the accumulated area of ​​forest and land fires in 2023 decreased by around 442.48 thousand ha or around 30.80% from 1.436 million ha.

However, when compared to forest and land fires in 2022, this year’s cases have increased significantly. Where, in 2022, the area of ​​forest and land fires will be recorded at 198,571.51 ha.

This was revealed during Minister Siti’s working meeting with Commission IV DPR, Tuesday (14/11/2023).

Quoting the presentation at the meeting, the largest area of ​​forest and land fires occurred in South Kalimantan with an area of ​​187,574.60 ha. Followed by Central Kalimantan with an area of ​​114,576.22 ha, and South Sumatra with an area of ​​109,460.67 ha.

“If we look at the accumulated area of ​​forest and land fires in 2023, it will be in the savanna, grasslands, in NTT, NTB, East Java and Southeast Sulawesi, the total is approximately 225 thousand ha. In terms of greenhouse gases, it’s not that big,” said Siti .

“What is important to look at is peat. In 2015, fires on peat were 34%, in 2023 it will only be 16%. This means we have made efforts and the results can be seen,” added Siti.

Apart from that, he continued, most forest and land fires occur in open areas. Where, 93% of forest and land fires in 2023 will occur in non-forest areas and another 7% in forest areas.

“Most of them happen in open areas. So, it is necessary to follow up, find a solution. Because it is open areas that people want to use,” said Siti.

Currently, said Siti, her party is implementing a paradigm shift in handling forest and land fires.

“There has been a change in the way we handle forest and land fires in the past and now. In the past, before 2015, we handled forest fires when there was a fire. The budget was only for handling extinguishing them. Now we have anticipated it, and next we manage the landscape,” concluded Siti.

[Gambas:Video CNBC]

(dce/dce)