Entering the dry season in some regions in Indonesia, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) through the Directorate of Climate Change Control (PPI) together with the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), Indonesian Air Force, Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB), Indonesian Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) and APP Sinar Mas - representing private sector launched the Weather Modification Technology operations in Riau, Jambi and South Sumatra on Thursday (10/6).
The application of the technology aims to prevent forest and land fires by making artificial rain. The idea is to induce potential clouds so the rains will cover peatlands, overcome drought in certain areas, fill the reservoirs with water and even to extinguish fires, especially in wider areas.
"There are four provinces that have been remarked by an Emergency Alert Status (Karhutla) in 2021. Those are Riau, West Kalimantan, Jambi, and South Sumatra. In these provinces, it is necessary to immediately increase efforts to control forest and land fires so that they can be anticipated quickly," said Director General of Climate Change and Control at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Laksmi Dwanthi.
The implementation of this operation realizes the synergy of the parties is needed. Some of the parties are involved from the government to the people in society.
In line with its commitment in sustainability, APP Sinar Mas as one of the companies that its business in forestry showing its commitment by sowing 10 tons of salt in the sky of South Sumatra and Jambi before it is facing the peak of the dry season.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), Indonesian Air Force, Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB), Indonesian Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG), salt sowing was carried out by deploying Casa 212 A-2105 aircraft with the assistance of 11 flight crews.
"APP Sinar Mas is responsible for preserving the environment, including from the threat of forest and land fires," said Director of APP Sinar Mas, Soewarso.
