It's undeniable that the threat of forest and land fires (karhutla) remains a frightening threat to this country. While forest and land fires recur year after year, there's no guarantee they will permanently stop or prevent recurrence in the years to come.

Specifically, this year, if forest and land fires occur, it's certain that the Indonesian nation will face two disasters simultaneously: forest and land fires and the COVID-19 pandemic, which, as of this writing, is still spreading, with a growing number of fatalities and cases.

Regarding the handling of COVID-19, Oxford University in England recently gave a red report card to the Indonesian Government, referring to the following four assessment indicators: the government's overall response ( Overall Government Response Index ), mitigation and health efforts ( Containment and Health Index ), enforcement of social distancing ( Stringency Index ), and economic support ( Economic Support Index ).

As a result, Indonesia only received an index score of 43.91, equivalent to a D (below 50). This assessment places Indonesia at the lowest position among ASEAN countries, even far behind Cambodia. So what if forest and land fires occur simultaneously? Many doubt the government's ability to address this double disaster .

Assessing the Threat of Forest and Land Fires in Indonesia

We can still accept that forest and land fires are caused by natural events, such as the El Niño phenomenon, which can ignite fires in already-dry lands. However, in reality, the perennial problem of forest and land fires stems from human activity.

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) states that 99% of forest and land fires in Indonesia are caused by human activity, primarily focused on economic gain. Forest and land fires have become a multidimensional problem, affecting not only the environment but also the state and society.

For example, from a public health perspective, the 2019 forest and land fires caused 900,000 people to suffer from upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). The study " Fires, Smoke Exposure, and Public Health: An Integrative Framework to Maximize Health Benefits from Peatland Restoration ," by a team of researchers from Harvard University and Columbia University, revealed that if forest and land fire control continues as usual , the premature death rate could reach 36,000 across all affected areas between 2020 and 2030.

This study estimates that 92 percent of the total premature deaths due to smoke exposure will occur in Indonesia, 7 percent in Malaysia, and 1 percent in Singapore. Similarly, from an economic perspective, forest and land fires cause significant losses. A World Bank study estimated that Indonesia suffered losses of USD 5.2 billion (Rp 72.9 trillion), equivalent to 0.5 percent of Indonesia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), not to mention the incalculable non-material costs, such as the loss of opportunity for hundreds of thousands of children whose education and enjoyment of a healthy life were disrupted.

The Importance of Improving Governance

In the author's opinion, the forest and land fire problem cannot be viewed solely from the technical aspects of firefighting. It encompasses a broader range of issues. It is common knowledge that governance issues are at the root of forest and land fires. This includes issues ranging from data transparency and budgeting to law enforcement against those responsible. The severity of forest and land fires also indicates poor governance from upstream to downstream. Improving this is certainly a challenge—difficult, but not impossible.

The author will explain the main issues of governance that require special attention, as described in the following sections:

First , transparency of forest and land fire data and information. Ease of access for the public to forest and land fire data is a fundamental right that the government must provide. The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) is commendable in providing SiPongi as a portal for forest and land fire data. However, further collaboration between the mass media and stakeholders is needed to ensure that the information disseminated is accurate and precise, avoiding confusion that could lead to data bias.

To this end, the rapid development of satellite imagery technology must be continuously utilized to accurately monitor the emergence of hotspots and potential fire areas. Monitoring should specifically focus on areas with a history of forest and land fires, including concession areas and community lands in Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, Papua, Riau, Jambi, and South Sumatra.

Second, participation and collaboration. The problem of forest and land fires is widespread across many interdependent sectors. Therefore, participation and collaboration from multiple parties is essential. This includes synergy between firefighters and stakeholders, both central and regional, down to the grassroots level. A shared vision, mission, and strategy are essential.

Third , the issue of performance measurement. One regulation that needs to be overhauled concerns indicators for successful forest and land fire management. Success in forest and land fire management should no longer be based on the absorption of the forest and land fire budget allocation. Instead, it should be based on the performance and achievements of firefighting, as well as the preparation of community structures and equipment before forest and land fires occur.

An agency or institution is currently labeled as not performing well if budget absorption for forest and land fire management declines. As a result, all agencies are racing to spend their budgets, no longer focusing on the effectiveness of forest and land fire management. Truly, this mechanism is no longer relevant and should be replaced.

Fourth , monitoring and law enforcement must be carried out impartially. It's common knowledge that forest and land fires frequently occur in land and concession areas. This is inextricably linked to the paradigm of some entrepreneurs seeking profit with minimal casualties. Burning the land becomes a preferred option. When caught, they evade prosecution and blame others for the consequences.

Sharp, impartial oversight and law enforcement are certainly key to addressing this issue. When an area catches fire, case investigations and sanctions—both administrative and legal—should begin as soon as possible.

Forest and land fires must be placed in the context of crimes against humanity. They are not merely sectoral crimes. To create a deterrent effect, maximum legal sanctions must be imposed, including on corporate violators, not just individual violators.

We must maintain the momentum that Indonesia is a country capable of reducing the rate of deforestation (and forest and land fires). This is not only to improve our reputation in the eyes of the world, but more importantly, to safeguard the safety of our own nation.

By: Delly Ferdian

Researcher at the Sustainable Madani Foundation

This article was published by the Mongabay Indonesia portal on September 21, 2020.