Fahutan IPB University Gives Award for Clean Air Programme and Forest and Land Fire Control

The Faculty of Forestry and Environment (Fahutan) of IPB University again gave appreciation in the framework of Indonesia’s clean air programme for the Kalimantan region. Last year, awards were given to a number of institutions in the Sumatra region. The award was also given to those who were considered successful in controlling forest and land fires (karhutla).

The appreciation was given directly by the Dean of Fahutan IPB University, Prof Naresworo Nugroho and the Director of the Regional Forest Fire Management Resource Center-Southeast Asia (RFMRC-SEA), Prof Bambang Hero Saharjo at the Mercure Hotel, Pontianak City, West Kalimantan recently.

The clean air award in the Kalimantan region for groups/teams was given to the Hijrah Bersama Group of Tanjungpura Village, Regu 3 Daops Manggala Agni Kalimantan VIII/Pontianak, and the Dalkarhutla Brigade UPT KPH Kayong Region.

For individual groups, the award was given to Usuluddin, SHut, MHut as the Land and Forest Fire Control Brigade (Dalkarhutla) of the Mempawah Region Technical Implementation Unit of the Forest Management Unit (UPT KPH), Sulistiono (Regional Disaster Management Agency/BPDB Kubu Raya Regency) and Irwan (Daops Manggala Agni Kalimantan I/Palangka Raya).

The representatives of the award recipients at the regency level are the Dalkarhutla Brigade of UPT KPH Kayong Region, Dalkarhutla Brigade of UPT KPH Sambas Region, Dalkarhutla Brigade of UPT KPH Ketapang Selatan Region, Dalkarhutla Brigade of UPT KPH Bengkayang Region. Awards were also given to the Dalkarhutla Brigade-Forest Security Team (Pamhut) UPT KPH Sintang Region, Daops Manggala Agni Kalimantan VI / Pontianak, UPT KPH Mempawah Region, UPT KPH South Ketapang Region, Regy 4 Daops Manggala Agni Kalimantan VIII / Pontianak, MPA Rasau Jaya General Village.

For the Manggala Agni / BPBD group, it was given to Joko Susilo (Manggala Agni Daops Sumatra IV / Siak), Irvarinsal (BPBD West Aceh) and Jeki Agustion (Manggala Agni Daops Sumatra X / Muara Bulian).

In addition to giving appreciation to a number of parties, Fahutan IPB University and FIELD Indonesia also participated in controlling forest and land fires through various actions. Such as monitoring hotspots and forest and land fire incidents every day in Sumatra and Kalimantan. The monitoring results are then inputted into the RFMRC-SEA website. The results of the monitoring are then also conveyed through presentations and discussions as well as going to the field.

Cooperation is also implemented by facilitating training activities for Land Preparation without Burning (PLTB) which are coordinated directly by FIELD Indonesia in areas where forest and land fires often / have occurred.

The team leader of the activity as well as the selection team, Prof Bambang Hero Saharjo expressed the criteria and indicators of award recipients used as the basis for assessment. The criteria include physical and mental health, high dedication and work wholeheartedly.

In addition, the working area for at least two years (2022-2023) has not caught fire, proven by satellite monitoring and facts on the ground. “Even if the area burned in 2022, but in 2023 the number of fires that occurred was successfully reduced due to maximum efforts,” explained the Professor of Fahutan IPB University who is an expert on forest fires.

The award recipients were also assessed for their activity in carrying out training and socialisation of PLTB activities, so that their working areas can be used as a reference place in forest and land fire control efforts. In addition, the rigorous selection process was supported by Senior Behavioural Scientist, Influence at Work (UK) Limited. (*/Rz) (IAAS/RUM)