Durian. Indonesian Environment and Forestry Ministry has applied weather modified technology to create rains to shower peatland and forest areas in Riau province to prevent from potential forest fires that usually happen in August to September annually.
The ministry established a join task force to implement the duty since July 24, it said in a press statement on August 9.
Riau has two critical period of time for forest fire to occur annually, in February-March and August-September.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), Air Force and related partners are parties in the task force, Director General of Climate Change Control at the Environment and Forestry Ministry Ruandha Agung Sugardiman said.
“The application of the second-trip of weather modified technology went good in Riau and we’re grateful for the availability of clouds to create rains in potential forest fire areas,” Sugardiman explained on August 9.
Nine air flights carrying total 7.2 tons of sodium chloride (NaCl) have been spread in the air of Pekanbaru, Siak, Pelalawan, Indragiri Hulu and Indragiri Hilir regencies in Riau from July 24 to August 8, Director of Forest Fires Control at the ministry Basar Manullang said.
The amount of NaCl could create total rain volume of 14.4 million cubic meters since July 24 which was able to prevent forest fire from happening.
No forest fire spot was spotted by Terra Aqua NASA Confidence Satellite in Riau province from July 24 to August 9.
In the near future, weather modified technology will be applied in Jambi and South Sumatra province. The program is expected to be conducted from August 12, Manullang explained.
