Protect Peat Forests from the Fury of Fire

In the heart of the peat ecosystem of Henda Village, Jabiren Raya District, Pulang Pisau Regency, Central Kalimantan, KUPS Jasa Lingkungan Henda Lestari is working to protect the forest from the threat of fire. KUPS Jasa Lingkungan Henda Lestari with the support of Direct Funding Nusantara Fund, built a 4.000-meter green firebreak, eight drilled wells, and fire extinguishers. In addition, sustainable forest management training was also carried out using fire extinguishing equipment and participatory mapping using GPS to prevent forest and land fires. 

The Henda Lestari Environmental Services Social Forestry Business Group (KUPS) is a community consisting of residents of Henda Village, Jabiren Raya District, Pulang Pisau Regency, Central Kalimantan. The area of ​​Henda Village, Jabiren Raya District, Pulang Pisau Regency, Central Kalimantan Province is ±8.000 hectares and 3.932 hectares of which are in a forest area included in the social forestry scheme. In this area there is a very deep peat area, so it is an important link in the ecosystem and has the potential to support the community's economy. 

Forest and land fires (karhutla) are very prone to occur in peat areas. The greater the damage to the peat, the more susceptible it is to burning. Damaged peat is usually caused by drying. KUPS Jasa Lingkungan Henda Lestari carries out a series of activities aimed at preventing karhutla which often hit peat areas. They built a 4.000 meter long and 2 meter wide green firebreak, planted with belangiran trees, a typical peat plant. 

Belangiran trees were chosen because they have natural resistance to fire, fast growth, and are able to maintain peat soil moisture with their dense canopies. Belangiran also has economic value, can be used for beams and planks in buildings, bridges, tool wood, ship wood etc. In addition, eight drilled wells were also built in strategic locations as a source of water for wetting to prevent peat drying and to extinguish fires during the dry season.

Not only stopping at physical infrastructure, this program also provides training to the community on sustainable forest management, including how to use firefighting equipment and participatory mapping techniques using GPS. No less than 15 group members, including women, are actively involved in this activity. With this activity, it is estimated that around 100 hectares of peat forest areas can be protected from the risk of fire.