CAUSES OF FOREST FIRES IN INDONESIA

Many land clearing by burning is the leading cause of forest and land fires. But not only that the cause of the fire, there are many other factors that make land and forest to burn. The cause of the fire can be intentional or unintentional. Enormous human role in managing the natural environment that creates the cause of forest fires.

One of the things that is often blamed for prolonged droughts due to the impact of El Nino so that the land becomes dry. Natural dry conditions facilitate the expansion of forest fire very quickly.

The opening of the road through the forest made by the government and private entrepreneurs towards facilitating access to parts of the forest that was once difficult to reach. Easy access to the forest gives a fresh breeze to the forest encroachers open up new land for farming and gardening. The traditional way of clearing land by burning finally done by these people.

Deforestation for the purpose of industrial wood timber or by reason of the opening of plantations by large capital entrepreneurs, both legal and illegal. Logging followed also by the community to meet immediate economic needs.

Utilization and conversion of land that was once tropical rainforest humid, reduced humidity. Ability to store rainwater that falls seep into the soil is also reduced due to the low levels of tree density. If the felled trees on peat forest, sunlight can enter directly into the forest floor. The more extensive the larger cutting area hiatus created. Peatland from drying out and is the fuel that sparked forest fires and land. Forests in Sumatra and Kalimantan are the areas that are burned each year.

Rapid increase in the number of people making the finding and opening new lands settlement. Target is a forest that has not been inhabited by people. The rivalry between the settlers and the natives sometimes cause social jealousy. The success of the efforts of migrant communities in the process of land to make the natives feel unrivaled. The actions of other people's land burning may occur due to a sense of dissatisfaction.

Those are some of the causes of land and forest fires in Indonesia. Preventive efforts need to be done rather than the actions of forest fire extinguish itself at a cost and greater losses. Control measures requires the intervention of all parties to get involved in addressing the causes of forest and land fires.

THE EFFECTS OF SLASHING DAN BURNING OF LAND MANAGEMENT

Slashing and burning is the preferred method of land clearing in the tropics for smallholders and large companies alike because it is cheaper, at least from a private perspective, and easier than available alternatives. In addition, fire eliminates field debris, reduces problems with weeds and other pests and diseases, makes nutrients available in the form of ash and loosens the soil to make planting easier. In some ways it is preferable environmentally compared to some other land-clearing methods.


For example, bulldozers and other heavy machinery cause soil compaction and erosion. Fire has many distinct advantages for low-income households: all other methods are more expensive; fire kills crop pests and diseases; and the ash provides much-needed fertilizer. Results of field experiments and surveys in Sumatra Indonesia demonstrate the key role that phosphorus (P) plays in resource management. Burning at low or medium intensity releases P into soil solution, but high-intensity fires reduce P levels. With greater fuel supply, hence hotter fires, the negative effects of heat on soil mineralogy offset the positive effects of additional ash.

FOREST PROTECTION

Definition of Forest Protection is a business, activity, and measures to prevent the destruction of forests and forest products due to human actions or natural. Causes of deforestation can be forest fires, pests, diseases, grazing, theft and causing protection factor. One of the principles of forest protection is the prevention of the onset or progression of a cause of forest destruction , would be more effective than control activities after the damage occurred.

The principle of priority to the prevention of forest protection onset or progression of a forest damage through silvicultural planning and good management.

In conjunction with the management measures, prevention of the concept of forest protection is approached by way of:

• decision to move or act to prevent the causes of forest destruction is not developed and does not cause deforestation seriously.
• development of a form of forest management is careful and insightful future.

Studies of forest protection in general as well studied as part of the Science Silviculture . Forest Protection Branch of Science has developed into a more specific knowledge of science among the Forest Diseases, Pests of Forest Science and Forest Fire.

FOREST PROTECTION STRATEGY

Several forest protection strategies that can be used to achieve sustainable forest management are:

1. understand the interaction with the agent of forest destruction so that:
   • can identify the factors that cause problems in forest protection
   • can identify the cause of primary damage
2. can analyze and make decisions as a whole and not just limited to the most serious causes of damage
3. always seen as a forest protection measures are not separate from silvicultural
4. aware that forest protection is increasingly important and the approach is not limited to field crops but excluding forest products.

Protection strategies in addition to ensuring the sustainability of forest management can also ensure a low risk of forest management.