Enviro News Asia, Riau – The Director General of Sustainable Forest Management, Laksmi Wijayanti, personally led a forest fire control supervision activity in Riau Province from Tuesday to Thursday (July 29-31).
The supervision activities included checking former forest fire areas in Bengkalis Regency, Rokan Hilir Regency, and Kampar Regency, holding dialogues with holders of Forest Utilization Permits (PBPH), and visiting the Ministry of Forestry’s Forest and Land Fire Control Command Post in Riau Province.
Based on the results of the field checks, Laksmi stated that the forest fire conditions in production and protected forests in Riau Province are under control.
However, she emphasized that all parties must remain vigilant, given that extreme weather conditions are expected in the coming month, and the risk of forest fires remains quite high.
“The Ministry of Forestry’s Forest and Land Fire Control Command Post is prepared to take rapid control measures and support coordination between institutions and local governments,” Laksmi explained.
Laksmi added that in addition to taking swift action, the Command Post, which consists of various elements from the Ministry of Forestry’s Technical Implementation Units (UPT), continues to seriously analyze data from previous fire incidents to determine anticipatory steps for the risk of future fires, especially in forest areas that have not been burdened with permits.
Laksmi also highly appreciated all parties who have moved quickly and collaborated in a structured manner in this forest fire control effort.
She stressed the importance of working towards a permanent solution to prevent a recurrence.
“I invite local governments to collaborate in resolving the root causes that have been the triggers of risks at the grassroots level,” Laksmi added.
Furthermore, Laksmi stated that the Directorate General of Sustainable Forest Management, along with the Directorate General of Forestry Law Enforcement, will continue to take firm legal action against both corporations and individuals/communities.
“Let’s collaborate to prevent forest fires,” Laksmi concluded.
During the supervision, the Director General of Sustainable Forest Management was accompanied by the Secretary of the Directorate General of Sustainable Forest Management, the Director of Control of Forest Utilisation Business, the Head of the Riau Regional Office of Natural Resources Conservation, the Head of the Pekanbaru Region III Office of Sustainable Forest Management, the Head of the Bagan Siapi-api Forest Management Unit, the Riau Ministry of Forestry’s Forest and Land Fire Control Command Post Team, and representatives of PBPH throughout Riau Province. (*)
