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Indonesia is rich in tropical forests, which account for 10% of the world’s tropical rainforests, However, these forests are in danger of disappearing with 1,300 thousands ha lost annually between 1990 and 2000. National parks account for 13% of the total forests in Indonesia. They are recognized as significant not only in Indonesia but internationally, and it is an urgent task to conserve them.

In 1997 and 1998, large scale forest fires devastated 800 thousands ha of forest which included 130 thousands of national park forests, and the resulting haze caused much environmental and economic damage in Indonesia and other ASEAN countries.

The Ministry of Forestry in Indonesia and the Japan International Cooperation agency implemented the FFPMP phase 1 project from 1996 to 2001. This project contributed to the technical development of early warning and detection systems by using satellites, introduced participatory forest fire management, and conducted initial forest fire fighting training in Jambi and West Kalimantan provinces.

Forest Fire Prevention Management Project 2

Forest fire is one of the main causes of decreasing and deteriorating forests. The Ministry of Forestry has made forest fire management one of its top priorities. In order to improve and strengthen the outcome of FFPMP 1, the Ministry of Forestry and JICA started the Forest Fire Prevention Management Project phase 2 on April 15, 2001.

The project purpose is "To Carry out forest Fire Prevention and Initial Suppression Activities (Which are sustainable, feasible and replicable with Indonesian resources) to protect national parks."

FFPMP2 focuses on four main areas:

1. Early warning and detection

2. Initial forest fire suppression

3. Extension and public relations, and

4. Participatory forest fire management.