Early Warning System Deployed to Combat Peatland Fires in Jambi, Indonesia

A thin plume of smoke behind a betel nut garden was initially dismissed as not dangerous. However, within hours, the fire grew and spread into the peatlands of Air Merah Village, Sungai Gelam, Muaro Jambi. Dozens of residents, along with officials, struggled to extinguish it, but the canals had dried up, making water scarce. The fire spread over a kilometer, estimated to have burned more than 130 hectares. Approximately 300 ground personnel and three helicopters were deployed. The blaze was only extinguished ten days later. As of September 3, 2026, KKI Warsi recorded forest and land fires in Jambi exceeding 10,000 hectares. For the residents, fires are not a new phenomenon. The Air Merah Community Forest area previously experienced severe fires in 2015 and 2019, and again in 2023, 2024, and 2026. Land degradation, area clearing, oil palm plantations, and canal construction have caused peatlands to lose their water-retaining capacity. Sri Wilarso Budi, a Professor at IPB University, warned that fires could actually be anticipated from the start, as warnings for prolonged dry seasons are already available. "It should have been anticipated. So, don't wait until the fire is large before everyone moves. That will be too late." Peatland management cannot be done based on concession boundaries or land parcels. Damage in one part can disrupt the water flow of the entire peatland hydrological unit. Canal blockages should be built before the land dries out. Once peatlands lose water, it takes three to four years to stabilize their water table. Their recovery takes even longer. Peat forms at only about 0.1-2 millimeters per year. This means it takes decades to hundreds of years to replace a 10-centimeter thick layer that has burned. To shift the approach from suppression to prevention, the Fincapes project is installing...