POLICY
JAKARTA (FORESTHINTS.NEWS) - Updated data from the US's National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) shows that the area of land afflicted by wildfires in the US from the beginning of the year until July 20 stands at 2.59 million acres, the equivalent of more than one million hectares, or over 14 times the size of Singapore.
In contrast, as of the end of June this year, just over 52 thousand hectares in Indonesia, less than the size of Singapore, had been impacted by forest and land fires, or only 5% of the area burned by wildfires in the US as of July 20.
In 2020, the first year of the global pandemic, US wildfires ravaged 10.12 million acres - equivalent to 4.1 million hectares or more than 56 times the size of Singapore, while in the same period, the area affected by forest and land fires in Indonesia amounted to just 7.24% of this US total.
At the April 2021 Leaders Summit on Climate Change hosted by US President Joe Biden, President Joko Widodo spoke about Indonesia's success in suppressing forest and land fires in 2020 by 82% compared to 2019.
President Widodo also pointed out that Indonesia’s fire suppression achievement took place while other countries, such as the US and Australia, were hit by widespread and intense wildfires.
Thanks to this achievement, Indonesia was free from haze-causing fires in 2020, such that there was also no transboundary haze in the first year of the pandemic.
The following chart demonstrates a comparison of US wildfires and Indonesia's forest and land fires in 2021. As for the respective areas of the two countries afflicted by fires so far this year, the US data covers the first of January until 30 June and July 20, while the Indonesian data is up to 30 June.
Meanwhile, with reference to Terra/Aqua Satellite (LAPAN) data with a confidence level equal to and greater than 80%, there were 333 hotspots in Indonesia from January 1-20 July this year, down almost 60% compared to the same period in 2020 when there were 821 hotspots, as depicted in the following chart.
As reported by FORESTHINTS.NEWS in early July 2020, Indonesian Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya moved swiftly to follow up on the order from President Widodo for the testing of permanent solutions to tackle last year's forest and land fires.
Subsequently, in early September last year, as also reported by FORESTHINTS.NEWS, Minister Nurbaya declared there had been a dramatic reduction in forest and land fires, meaning that Indonesia did not experience a double-disaster in the form of the COVID-19 outbreak exacerbated by haze-causing fires.
Permanent solutions to address forest and land fires continue to be applied, in particular to ensure that, just like last year, no haze-causing fires occur this year and in the coming years.
Law enforcement, no transboundary haze
President Widodo, in his order on February 2021, emphasized that law enforcement will continue to be implemented without compromise to ensure no haze-causing fires occur this year, as was the case last year.
In fact, the President went even further, demanding that no other ASEAN countries be affected by transboundary haze.
While handling the pandemic over the past year and a half, ASEAN countries have successfully prevented from the transboundary haze, allowing them to devote as many resources as possible to public health due to the widespread extent of the pandemic.
Indonesian BMKG data, showing up to 7 days from today, indicates that provinces historically associated with transboundary haze are predicted to be safe from forest and land fires. The dry season in Indonesia this year began in May and June and will peak in August.
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POLICY
JAKARTA (FORESTHINTS.NEWS) - Updated data from the US's National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) shows that the area of land afflicted by wildfires in the US from the beginning of the year until July 20 stands at 2.59 million acres, the equivalent of more than one million hectares, or over 14 times the size of Singapore.
In contrast, as of the end of June this year, just over 52 thousand hectares in Indonesia, less than the size of Singapore, had been impacted by forest and land fires, or only 5% of the area burned by wildfires in the US as of July 20.
In 2020, the first year of the global pandemic, US wildfires ravaged 10.12 million acres - equivalent to 4.1 million hectares or more than 56 times the size of Singapore, while in the same period, the area affected by forest and land fires in Indonesia amounted to just 7.24% of this US total.
At the April 2021 Leaders Summit on Climate Change hosted by US President Joe Biden, President Joko Widodo spoke about Indonesia's success in suppressing forest and land fires in 2020 by 82% compared to 2019.
President Widodo also pointed out that Indonesia’s fire suppression achievement took place while other countries, such as the US and Australia, were hit by widespread and intense wildfires.
Thanks to this achievement, Indonesia was free from haze-causing fires in 2020, such that there was also no transboundary haze in the first year of the pandemic.
The following chart demonstrates a comparison of US wildfires and Indonesia's forest and land fires in 2021. As for the respective areas of the two countries afflicted by fires so far this year, the US data covers the first of January until 30 June and July 20, while the Indonesian data is up to 30 June.
Meanwhile, with reference to Terra/Aqua Satellite (LAPAN) data with a confidence level equal to and greater than 80%, there were 333 hotspots in Indonesia from January 1-20 July this year, down almost 60% compared to the same period in 2020 when there were 821 hotspots, as depicted in the following chart.
As reported by FORESTHINTS.NEWS in early July 2020, Indonesian Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya moved swiftly to follow up on the order from President Widodo for the testing of permanent solutions to tackle last year's forest and land fires.
Subsequently, in early September last year, as also reported by FORESTHINTS.NEWS, Minister Nurbaya declared there had been a dramatic reduction in forest and land fires, meaning that Indonesia did not experience a double-disaster in the form of the COVID-19 outbreak exacerbated by haze-causing fires.
Permanent solutions to address forest and land fires continue to be applied, in particular to ensure that, just like last year, no haze-causing fires occur this year and in the coming years.
Law enforcement, no transboundary haze
President Widodo, in his order on February 2021, emphasized that law enforcement will continue to be implemented without compromise to ensure no haze-causing fires occur this year, as was the case last year.
In fact, the President went even further, demanding that no other ASEAN countries be affected by transboundary haze.
While handling the pandemic over the past year and a half, ASEAN countries have successfully prevented from the transboundary haze, allowing them to devote as many resources as possible to public health due to the widespread extent of the pandemic.
Indonesian BMKG data, showing up to 7 days from today, indicates that provinces historically associated with transboundary haze are predicted to be safe from forest and land fires. The dry season in Indonesia this year began in May and June and will peak in August.
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