IPB University’s Professor who Testifies Against Firms Causing Indonesian Wildfires Won John Maddox Prize
Prof. Bambang Hero Saharjo, a fire forensics specialist and professor from Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry, IPB University has won the prestigious John Maddox prize in London for his takes on companies causing major wildfires in Indonesia. Despite harsh discouragement and lawsuits, Prof. Bambang has testified more than annual fires cases smothering largely of Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia, puts health of 10 million children at risk.
For many on-going years, Indonesia has been suffering with massive wildfires that even went beyond across the country borders affecting neighboring nations. Prof. Bambang Hero Saharjo a fire forensics specialist and professor from Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry, IPB University who takes on firms responsible has won the prestigious “John Maddox Prize 2019” for standing up for science and society in the face of harsh discouragement and lawsuits. Awarded on last November 12th, 2019, in London, throughout the years The Maddox Prize recognizes individuals for their valuable contribution promoting sciences and evidences, advancing public discussion around difficult topics despite challenges or hostility.
As referred to the Sense About Science website, the prize is a joint initiative of “Sense about Science” and top-tier scientific journal “Nature”, funded by organizations concerned and public donations. The late Sir John Maddox, FRS, acted as both editor of “Nature” for 22 years and a founding trustee of “Sense about Science”, where now his daughter–Bronwen Maddox—has been positioned as patron of the prize.
Regarding such exceptional recognition, Prof. Bambang gathers evidence for criminal trials against companies accused of utilizing illegal slash-and-burn methods to clear peatland for Indonesian cash crops such as oil palm, pulpwood and rubber trees. As an expert witness in such uneasy, lengthy ongoing national issue, Prof. Bambang has received death threats and phone calls warning that his wife and family will come to harm if he continues the work. Indeed fires may start naturally during dry season, however most cases are set intentionally by companies on peatland before aforementioned cash crops land preparations, since slash-and-burn is significantly cheaper way. Once fires ignite peat layers beneath the forests, blazes can be impossible to put out until the rainy season or monsoon arrives, whose period became more unpredictable.
The annual fires smother much of Indonesia and parts of Singapore and Malaysia in a smoke blanket and haze that cause widespread acute respiratory problems, forcing schools, airports and some workplaces to close. Unicef recorded that the damage puts health of 10 million children at risk. Overall, the economic cost to Indonesia can top not less than $10 billion (£7.8 billion) each year. It as well can release more than 1 billion tons of carbon dioxide in a single season.
By far, Prof. Bambang has testified in about 500 cases through scientific methods to trace where and when fires begin, what paths they take and how much smoke and greenhouse gases they release which resulted information and data are then presented in court. In 2015, his testimony helped secure a guilty verdict against the palm oil company JJP, where it continued in 2018 when the firm filed a $33.5m lawsuit against him, claiming his testimony was faulty, but later withdrew the action. Asked if the award would aid in his vision, Prof. Bambang denoted so and will keep actively continuing on his work.
