InfoSAWIT, PELALAWAN - 16 villages in Riau and Jambi committed to prevent the fire in the forest and areas by joining Desa Bebas Api or Fire Free Village which Asian Agri proposed.
The program of Desa Bebas Api (DBA) of Asian Agri is the way to prevent the fire by involving every stakeholder, such as, the people, the government, and the company. It is supported by the initiatives of the people joining Masyarakat Peduli Api (MPA) to prevent the fire in their surroundings.
Deputy in Energy Management, Natural Resources, and Environment Coordination, Coordinator Ministry in Economy, Montty Giriana said, since two years ago, Indonesia has changed the paradigm of the fire in the area from burning out to be preventing.
He also said, this is the best solution to prevent the fire as quick as it is possible. “It could be done by increasing the early warning system and make good communication in the field. It is hoped, the people are triggered not to enlarge the areas by burning,” he recently said in Pelalawan.
Based on the company, since in 2016, the DBA program has reduced the fire in the concession areas of Asian Agri. If in 2015, there were fire in 13,75 hectares, in 2016 the fire burned only 7,98 hectares. The prevention has been done in Village of Delik, Village of Lalang Kabung, Village of Rantau Baru, Village of Lubuk Ogong, Village of Tambak, Village of Segati, Village of Sotol in Riau, serta Village of Lubuk Lawas, andVillage of Lubuk Bernai in Jambi. “It is hoped, in 2017 there would be no fire anymore,” Regional Head Asian Agri in Riau, Omri Samosir said.
Knowing the success of DBA program, in this year, 7 villages would join the program to continue the commitment to prevent the fire, they are, Village of Terusan , andVillage of Bagan Limau in Riau; Village of Tupo Sumay, Village of Suo Suo, Village of Semambu, Village of Teriti, andVillage of Muara Sekalo in Jambi.
Chairman ofMasyarakat Peduli Api, Village of Terusan, Ermansaid, the will to join the program was from the bad experience made of fire and smoke.
“We want to join the program because it is the national issue. It means, prevention should be done together. We knew the negative effects and we do not want, the same thing happens again and our family and brother get the same thing too,” he said.
Meanwhile, Asian Agri, the company concerning about the environment fully supports the people’s initiative by facilitating the villages joining the DBA program.
“We commit to support the fire prevention in Indonesia. We believed, the same synergy could give positive influence to reduce the fire in the land nationally,” Head of Sustainability Operation & CSR Asian Agri, Welly Pardede said. (T2)
