TEMPO.CO, Palembang-  A total area of ​​one million hectares of peatland in South Sumatra from 2006 to 2014 were damaged by fire, officials said Wednesday, September 2.

Head of Regional Technical Implementation Unit (UPTD), Forest and Land Fire Control, South Sumatra Forestry Office, Ahmad Taufik, in Palembang, on Wednesday said that in the period between 2006 to 2014 forest fire hit the area has resulted in the destruction of most of the province’s peatlands.

South Sumatra Land and Forest Fire Control recorded about one million hectares of 1.4 million hectares of peatlands in South Sumatra are now in a badly damaged condition due to the burning of the land.

He explained that, the forest and land fires caused the haze disaster that hit South Sumatra, as experienced in recent weeks.

Taufik explained that the dry season exacerbated by the El Nino phenomenon, causing drought is one factor of the frequent forest and peatland fires in South Sumatra.

According to Taufik, from June 2015 a number of hotspots has appeared on peatland on the east coast of South Sumatra, as in Ogan Ilir, Ogan Komering Ilir, Banyuasin and Musi Banyuasin. On average there were 100 fires observed by Aqua and Terra Modis satellites by the local meteorological agency.

While, anticipating the impact of peatland degradation that occurs, the South Sumatra provincial government together with related agencies is trying a variety of ways for the forest and land fires not to cause haze that spread to other regions.

These efforts include monitoring readiness of the land and air team, and intensified water bombing in four districts with potentially burning peat. In addition, they seek to improve law enforcement.

He added that this year's peak fire season occurred in August and September.

ANTARA