Prof. Bambang Hero Saharjo as Executive Director of the Regional Fire Management Resource Center Southeast Asia (RFMRC-SEA), Faculty of Forestry and Environment (Fahutan) IPB University also attended the Global Fire Management Hub Plenary meeting in Rome, Italy (10-12/6).
In the meeting that brought together experts in integrated fire management (IFM), Prof. Bambang proposed the need to increase activities after forest fires, especially in terms of law enforcement. He emphasized strict sanctions to prosecute perpetrators of forest fires so that they are responsible for the damage that has occurred.
“Ecosystem restoration or recovery activities must also be prioritized to restore damaged environmental conditions. This step is important so that areas that have been burned do not experience further damage that is detrimental to humans and the environment,” said the figure who is now the Head of the Center for Disaster Studies at IPB University.
The first Global Fire Management Hub or ‘Fire Hub’ was launched in 2023 by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to bring together partners to strengthen the capacity of countries in integrated fire management.
“Fire Hub is a collaborative platform that brings together a global network of partners and stakeholders, strengthening the capacity of countries to implement integrated fire management to reduce the negative impacts of forest fires on livelihoods and landscapes,” he explained.
The Professor of Forestry Faculty of IPB University explained that Fire Hub emphasizes coordinated cross-sector policies and inclusive strategies that reflect the realities on the ground, bridging science, tradition, and innovation for a safer and more resilient future.
“With the increasing threat of forest fires around the world, countries need to immediately shift their attention from reaction and response to fire prevention from the start,” said Prof. Bambang.
In controlling forest fires, the focus of Fire Hub includes 1) sharing knowledge and data, 2) capacity building, 3) empowering communities that are resilient to forest fires, 4) fire risk assessment and early warning, and 5) policy support.
“Through this focus, Fire Hub accelerates integrated fire management at the regional, national, and community levels. This platform provides the best information and training to support countries in a coherent, comprehensive, and consistent manner,” concluded Prof. Bambang. (*/Rz)