Appreciating the Clean Air Program and Control of Forest and Land Fires in Sumatra, Fahutan IPB University Gives an Award
IPB University’s Faculty of Forestry and Environment (Fahutan) again gave awards to a number of parties who were deemed successful in controlling forest and land fires (karhutla) and contributing to creating clean air, thereby creating a better environment.
Appreciation was given directly by the Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Fahutan IPB University, Prof Noor Farikhah Haneda and the Regional Director of the Forest Fire Management Resource Center-Southeast Asia (RFMRC-SEA), Prof Bambang Hero Saharjo at the Premiere Hotel, Pekanbaru City, Riau Province (15 /3).
Overall, there were three award recipients at national level, six at provincial level and 20 at district level. The clean air award at the Sumatra Province level was symbolically given to Sutoyo from the Fire Care Community (MPA) Suka Makmur Village, Sungai Bahar District, Muaro Jambi Regency, Jambi Province.
The same award was also given to Madrizal, SSos (West Sumatra Forestry Service), Dhamasraya (West Sumatra Forestry Service) Production Forest Management Unit (KPHP), and Gunawan (Manggala Agni Daops Sumatra IV/ Pekanbaru).
Regency level awards were symbolically given to Syahrizon Gusriyal (Manggala Agni Daops Sumatra VI/ Siak), Mistarudin (Manggala Agni Daops Sumatra VI/ Siak), Taslim (Manggala Agni Daops Sumatra VI/ Siak) and Saiman (Manggala Agni Daops Sumatra VI/ Siak). The national level award will be given in Bogor on March 27, 2024.
Apart from giving appreciation to a number of parties, Fahutan IPB University and FIELD Indonesia also took part in controlling forest and land fires through various actions. Such as monitoring hot spots and forest and land fire incidents every day in Sumatra and Kalimantan. The monitoring results are then input to the RFMRC-SEA page. The results of the monitoring were then also conveyed through presentations and discussions as well as going to the field.
Collaboration is also implemented by facilitating training activities on Land Preparation Without Burning (PLTB) which are coordinated directly by FIELD Indonesia in areas where forest and land fires frequently/ever occur.
The Chief of the activity implementation team as well as the selection team, Prof Bambang Hero Saharjo, explained the criteria and indicators for award recipients which were used as the basis for the assessment. These criteria include being physically and mentally healthy, highly dedicated and working wholeheartedly.
Apart from that, the working area has not burned for at least two years (2022-2023), as proven by satellite monitoring results and facts on the ground. “Even if the area burned in 2022, in 2023 the number of fires that occurred was successfully reduced through maximum efforts,” explained the Professor of Fahutan at IPB University who is an expert on forest fires.
The award recipients were also assessed for their activeness in carrying out training and socializing PLTB activities, so that their work area can be used as a reference point in efforts to control forest and land fires. In addition, a strict selection process is supported by Senior Behavioral Scientist, Influence at Work (UK) Limited.
The award reception ceremony was also attended by the Chief of the Conservation and Natural Resources Technical Division- Natural Resources Conservation Center (BBKSDA) of the Riau Province, representatives of the Riau Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Coordinator of the Manggala Agni Daops Riau Province, Coordinator of the Center for Disaster Studies, Riau University, Kadaops Siak, BBKSDA West Sumatra Province, as well as the award selection team. (*/Rz) (IAAS/HNJ)
