unri.ac.id As a form of solution in resolving the haze disaster caused by forest and land fires (karhutla) which especially occurred in Riau Province, the Head of the National Disaster Management Agency of the Republic of Indonesia (BNPB-RI) together with the Head of the Indonesian Peatland Restoration Agency (BRG), Governor Riau, the Chancellor of the University of Riau (Unri), and the President of the Unri Students delivered material in a public lecture with the theme "Permanent Solutions to Haze Disasters," at the Sutan Balia Hall Building, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) Unri, Tuesday (5/11/2019) ).
Unri Chancellor Prof. Dr. Ir Aras Mulyadi DEA, expressed his gratitude to various parties who have shown concern for the haze disaster that hit Riau Province some time ago. With the Karhutla incident that occurred in 2019 it was quite worrying considering that a number of villages had become more prone to disasters.
"The presence of competent resource persons who have an important role in the control and management of smoke disasters, it is hoped that with more effective solutions and control, it is hoped that this smoke disaster will not happen again," hoped the Chancellor.
"As academics, we also play a role in persuasively inviting the community not to burn land, besides that in academia we also have research lecturers who will conduct research on land and forest control so that these fires can be avoided," said the Chancellor.
"With regard to controlling forest and land fires, Unri through the Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM) conducted a series of research, as well as concrete actions carried out through the implementation of the Community Service Program (KKN) with the theme of community-based forest and land fire prevention, including peat restoration activities. throughout the Peat Hydrological Unit (KHG) as the main solution for forest and land fires in Riau," explained this Professor of Fisheries and Marine Affairs.
Furthermore, on a regular basis in an effort to prevent the occurrence of smoke disasters due to forest and land fires in Riau Province, students who are currently implementing KKN are involved in Thematic Community Service Programs in several districts and cities which have the potential for large forest and land fire disasters. "Every year, the implementation of the Unri KKN Program uses the theme of handling and preventing forest and land fires. We have been doing this since 2015 even through the National Community Service Program for all universities in Indonesia,” explained the Chancellor.
In line with the Unri Chancellor, Riau Governor Drs Syamsuar MSi, said that the Riau Provincial government is currently mapping areas prone to Forest and Land Fires (Karlahut) in Riau. The results of the temporary mapping in Riau show that 75 sub-districts 188 villages in Riau are in the Karthutla-prone area.
“In addition to mapping disaster-prone sub-districts and villages, the Riau Provincial Government is conducting an inventory of plantation permits and forest control in Riau. With this one map policy, in the future we can find out how many HGU permits are in Riau, how many plantations do not have HGUs and how many do not pay taxes,” he said.
The governor asked the community not to open plantation land by burning. Because the impact caused by Karlahut has a very broad impact.
The head of the BNPB RI, Lieutenant General TNI Doni Monardo, stated that to prevent the issue of forest and land fires in the future, it requires commitment from all parties, and without placing the responsibility on the government alone. “There needs to be a joint commitment so that future forest and land fires will no longer occur. The role of students is very important in helping change people's behavior," said Doni.
Among the steps being pursued in the prevention of Karlahut, by building canal skating, reservoirs on peat areas that have the potential for forest and land fires through the Peatland Restoration Agency (BRG), especially during the dry season that occurs in Riau. Even the peat in Riau has a depth of more than 20 meters, therefore, the nature of peat, which is wet, watery, must continue. If it is dry, then the potential for fires during the dry season is very vulnerable to Karlahut. "BRG is trying to restore it, including by making canal skating so that the peat remains wet and watery," he concluded. (wendi. believer. photo: rizki. roger) ***
