Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — Indonesia has officially launched the second Training of Trainers (ToT) on forest fire suppression in peatland ecosystems, aimed at strengthening technical capacity and fostering international collaboration in addressing forest and land fires.
The program was inaugurated by Vice Minister of Forestry Rohmat Marzuki and is jointly organized by the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization, IPB University, Korea Forest Service, the ASEAN Secretariat, and the Government of France.
The 12-day training, held from April 13 to 24, 2026, combines classroom sessions in Bogor, West Java, with field exercises at the Manggala Agni Fire Management Unit in Ogan Komering Ilir, South Sumatra.
In his remarks, Rohmat emphasized Indonesia’s strong commitment to protecting peatland ecosystems, noting that the country possesses one of the largest tropical peatland areas in the world. He outlined three key pillars in Indonesia’s forest and land fire management strategy: climate risk analysis and weather modification, integrated cross-sectoral operational control, and landscape-based management involving multiple stakeholders.
He highlighted that peatlands play a critical role as carbon sinks and biodiversity habitats, making their protection essential for climate mitigation and environmental sustainability. According to him, the development of skilled human resources through such training programs is vital for effective fire management.
Participants are equipped with a range of competencies, including peat fire behavior analysis, Geographic Information System (GIS) applications, and practical firefighting techniques. These skills are expected to empower participants to become agents of change in their respective countries.
The training also serves as a platform to strengthen professional networks among fire management practitioners across the region, enabling knowledge exchange, sharing of best practices, and sustained cross-border collaboration in tackling peatland fires.
The program is attended by 23 participants from several countries with similar ecosystem characteristics, including Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines, Timor-Leste, Cambodia, and Malaysia.
Through this initiative, Indonesia aims to share its experience in managing peatland fires while reinforcing regional cooperation to ensure sustainable peatland ecosystem management for future generations. (*)
