Sumatra, Carbon stock, Biodiversity loss, Pulp & paper, Palm oil, APP, APRIL, consessions, fire hotspots, forest fires, MODIS, peatland, tesso nilo,
PEKANBARU (EoF News)— Majority of forest and land fires in Riau Province recently detected by satellite from 17 January to 28 January 2009 occurred in peatlands where hotspots found in several concessions of pulpwood plantations (HTI) and palm oil. Protected Area (Kawasan Lindung) and proposed expansion of Tesso Nilo National Park were also raged by fires, Eyes on the Forest analyzed.
Data that developed by GIS Unit of EoF found that MODISS satellite fire map detected 657 hotspots occurred in pulpwood concessions that mostly affiliated to both Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) and Asian Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited (APRIL).
Meanwhile, 171 hotspots that found in 18 palm oil plantations in the province during the period.
Many hotspots found in peat swamp forest such as Giam Siak Kecil, Senepis, Kerumutan, Kampar Peninsula and Libo Block. In Tesso Nilo, HPH selective logging concessions that designated for the National Park expansion also raged by fires.
By pulpwood concession, PT. Liwa Perdana Mandiri, an APP/SMG affiliated company in Giam Siak Kecil block, is the worst concession hit by fires as 170 hotspots detected. An unidentified pulpwood concession in Giam Siak Kecil block had 107 hotspots.
It is followed by PT Surya Dumai Agrindo (APP/SMG, in Senepis) 88 hotspots, PT Rimba Rokan Lestari (APRIL, in Island Block) 40, PT Tiara Cahaya Delima (APP/SMG in Giam Siak Kecil) 33, PT Seraya Sumber Lestari (APRIL in Giam Siak Kecil) 29, PT Rimba Mutiara Permai (APRIL, in Kerumutan) 24, Koperasi Ikram (APP/SMG) 22, and PT Ruas Utama Jaya (APP/SMG in Senepis) 16.
PT Arara Abadi (APP) through its 8 sites in Beringin, Pelalawan, Pulau Muda, Nilo, Siak, and Duri were hit by total 50 hotspots. Meanwhile, PT RAPP (APRIL) in its estates at Pelalawan, Ukui and Mandau there were 9 hotspots found.
*Crash Image*
By palm oil plantations, PT Mekar Sari Alam Lestari hit by 51 hotspots, PT Guntung Hasrat Makmur (2 concessions) 35, PT Sakti Sawit Jaya 24, PT Bumi Reksa Nusasejati (2 concessions) 16, and PT Baskarasatriatama Riau 13.
From Senepis forest block, a report said that at least four individuals of tiger wandered in villages after they escaped from their habitat raged by fires, said Bastoni, a tiger conservationist from PKHS (Sumatran Tiger Conservation Center), Detik.com website reported Thursday (29/01/2009). The NGO prepared to set up a trap to catch the Sumatran tigers before releasing them in a safe forest.
Law enforcement for forest and land fires remain problem in Riau Province considering there were no companies brought to justice in 2006 where thousands hectares of forest and land raged by fires.
Riau Provincial Government have lifted the Alert status for forest and land fires on Wednesday as thick haze decreased in some districts following heavy rain falling on Monday and Tuesday.
In another development, Riau Police Chief, Brig.-Gen. Hadiatmoko was replaced by Brig.- Gen. Adji Rustam Ramdja , chairman of Indonesian Police’s Jakarta Center for Law Enforcement Coordination. The Indonesian Police spokesperson Abubakar Nataprawira said that the replacement was made for refreshment and promoted the incumbent to the Police Headquarters’ Deputy Chairman of Crime Intelligence Unit.
See Hotspots by concessions 17-28 January 2009
Find Modis hotspots at: ftp://mapsftp.geog.umd.edu/
***