Eight Fire-Prone Indonesian Provinces Asked to Ban Open Burning Ahead of El Nino Onset

Fidelis E. Satriastanti, The Jakarta Globe 24 Aug 09;

With the threat of an El Nino drought looming, the Environment Ministry has instructed the governors of eight provinces prone to forest fires to withdraw regional regulations that allow open burning.

“Technically, I don’t have the authority to order the governors directly, however, considering recent developments, especially the El Nino threat, the ministry decided to issue instructions banning all sorts of open burning,” State Minister of Environment Rachmat Witoelar said.

He said the letters requesting the ban were passed on to the governors last week and they would have to pass them on to the heads of districts.

The eight provinces are North Sumatra, Riau, Jambi, South Sulawesi and all four provinces in Kalimantan.

Based on ministry data, from Aug. 1 to 23, there were a total of 7,064 hot spots recorded in the eight provinces. West Kalimantan had the highest number with 3,841 while North Sumatra had the lowest with 72.

Rachmat said the instructions strongly advised against land clearing by fire even though regional regulations permit open burning.

“It is well known that many regions have issued regulations allowing people to clear land by burning,” he said, adding that such regulations usually limited burning to land of two hectares or less. “But the ministry intends to be very strict concerning these instructions and could hold the heads of regions liable for any fires.”

However, he said, to give people an alternative to slash-and-burn tactics, the ministry had made available composting machines to encourage people to chop up wood and leaves for processing into compost.

“We have distributed about 120 units all over Indonesia since 2008 and apparently our efforts have attracted the attention of other countries, like Norway, which donated funds to buy the machines,” he said.

The banning of all open burning was agreed at a Transboundary Haze Pollution meeting last Wednesday between five Asean countries — Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei, Malaysia and host nation Singapore.

El Nino, a climate phenomena that is expected to hit the region in December, led to more than $9 billion in damage when it struck Southeast Asia in 1997-98.

Governors told to end land burning
Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post 25 Aug 09;

Environment minister Rachmat Witoelar appealed Monday to governors and regents of fire-ravaged areas to stop all burning of forests, to prevent the unbridled spread of forest fires across the country.

Rachmat also urged the governors and regents to revoke all bylaws allowing local farmers to clear farmland through burning.

"I appeal to, and warn, the leaders to prevent forest fires in the country, since I don't have authority to order them," he said in Jakarta.

The environment ministry sent letters of warning on Aug. 16 to the governors of North Sumatra, Riau, Jambi, South Sulawesi and all the provinces in Kalimantan.

The number of fire hot spots has gone on the decline in the week since the warnings were sent, the ministry says, with no clear reason yet for the decline.

In West Kalimantan, there were 249 hot spots as of Aug. 14, but as of Aug. 23, that number had dropped to 46.

Rachmat said his office would provide financial assistance to local farmers to stop them from burning more land.

"Several other countries, including Australia and Norway, have also pledged to help Indonesia by providing funds to end the clearing of land through burning," he said.

"The environment ministers of Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Brunei Darussalam have also reached an agreement to help Indonesia deal with the forest fires."

Rahmat added all the help was offered upon Indonesia's request.

Calls for an end to the burning were also made in Malaysia and Thailand.

Environment ministers from five ASEAN countries met last week in Singapore to discuss transboundary haze from forest fires, which are expected to increase in number this year as the El Ni*o phenomenon takes hold.

The ministerial steering committee was formed to discuss the transboundary haze.

Under the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, countries in the region affected by fires may request assistance from neighbor to combat the fires.

The ministers also agreed to step up enforcement measures and promote public awareness to control forest fires.