Haze in two weeks'
time?
20 June 2007 1121 hrs (SST) 0321 hrs (GMT)
Somewhere on an open airstrip in Riau, an airplane is ready to
spring into action as a fire-fighting machine. The AT602 plane,
used more frequently to spray fertiliser on plantations, can also
carry about 2,400 litres of water enough to help douse fires in
the haze-prone region.
But, it hasn't been busy on that front lately. Its owner, pulp and
paper manufacturer Asia Pacific Resources International Limited
(April), had offered to share the one-seater plane with the Riau
authorities to control fires about three months ago. The firm has
yet to receive a reply.
"We proposed it in March this year but they (the Riau government)
haven't signed it yet. They probably will once the fire starts,"
said Mr Brad Sanders, head of fire and safety at the
Singapore-based April.
And that would be soon the haze period is slated to start in two
weeks' time. Officials from five Asean countries, including
Singapore, are in Jambi to hear how Indonesia plans to tackle the
problem this year (see box).
Forest fires in parts of Indonesia, such as the Riau and Jambi
provinces in Sumatra, are largely the cause of the transboundary
haze that had hit Asean in the past few years. Last October,
Singapore's haze situation reached unhealthy PSI (Pollutant
Standards Index) levels between 101 to 200.
With two weeks left to the dry season, farmers in Riau are
preparing to clear their lands using the inexpensive slash-and-burn
method inevitably leading to forest fires again.
Last year, the province recorded almost 9,000 hotspots, said Mr
Sanders. But only about 2 per cent of these took place within
April's plantation areas, which measures more than twice the size
of Singapore.
And this is not solely because of their fire-fighting capabilities,
which includes another 70 full-time fire-fighters, 20 pick-up
trucks, an airboat and a helicopter, said Mr Sanders. This, he
believes, is also due to April's active attempts to provide
economically viable avenues for locals living in its jurisdiction
to steer clear of slash and burn practices.
He said: "We help communities develop small profitable enterprises
such as haircut shops and honey production. So, people have other
sources of income other than the agrarian-based one. There will be
a lesser chance of them resorting to slash and burn."
But there is only so much one company can do.
A large part of the problem in tackling the haze situation boils
down to bureaucracy and a lack of political will at all levels.
"In Indonesia, there is really no system in place to respond to all
the sources of fire at one time. The problem here is that the
people want the fires to burn. They are lighting them on purpose to
clear the land. ... It's a conundrum," said Mr Sanders.
He also cited the inefficient use of two fire-fighting airplanes
that the Indonesian government leased from Russia late last year:
"By the time they (the airplanes) arrived, the rainy season had
already started. They spent US$5.2 million ($8 million) and it
wasn't used effectively, unfortunately."
Mr Fitrian Ardiansyah, programme director of climate and energy for
WWF Indonesia, believes Indonesia's commitment to reduce the number
of hotspots by 50 per cent this year is a "big challenge".
He told Today: "Transforming political pledge to action on the
ground requires more than just willingness. Infrastructure and
coordination to prevent and fight fires need to be under one
command. Nowadays, the blame game is still happening among
different sectors and levels that is, between the central and
local governments." - TODAY/sh
FINGERS CROSSED IN JAMBI
It has promised to reduce its hotspots by 50 per cent this
year.
And today will see Indonesia updating its immediate neighbours of
its progress towards achieving this objective.
Representatives from five Asean countries Singapore, Brunei,
Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia are in Jambi to attend the third
meeting of the sub-regional steering committee on the transboundary
haze pollution.
Singapore's Minister of Environment and Water Resources, Dr Yaacob
Ibrahim leading the Singapore delegation told reporters last
week that he hopes Indonesia can keep their promise.
He also said that Singapore had submitted to Indonesia a haze
masterplan that covers fire prevention and suppression, legislation
and enforcement as well as regional and international
collaboration.
But Indonesian Forestry Minister M S Kaban was quoted by its
national news Antara as saying that he had not received the
proposal.
