TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-Three Japanese institutions have given Indonesia US$3 million worth of monitoring systems, monitoring devices as well as agricultural and peatland researches. These tools will be used for the purpose of restoring peatlands that have been damaged by fires, as well as to detect and prevent fires.

The three institutions are the University of Kyoto, the Hokkaido University, and the Research Institute for Human and Nature (RHIN).

Indonesia's Peat Restoration Agency chief Nazir Foead said 40 devices have been installed to monitor the humidity and water temperature of in peatlands as a pilot project. The devices are installed in peatlands in the provinces of Jambi, South Sumatra, Riau and Central Kalimantan.

In a year's time, the agency is targeting to have more of this monitoring equipment installed.

The 40 devices are being pilot tested. The server is on its way from Japan to Indonesia, and the software will be updated to have the Indonesian language.

"The device shows how dry or wet peatlands are. So it is useful to monitor restoration activities," he said.

The President's Chief of Staff Teten Masduki said if it is very difficult to monitor forest fires because of the vast area. However, with devices that can detect any changes in the peatlands' water level and degree of wetness, the government will have an early warning system to detect fire potentials.

"Certainly, we will ask palm businesses and industrial forest (HTI) to use the system so we have an early warning system, especially when there is a drought in the peatland," he said.

Tempo.Co