Spatial modelling of anthropogenic based peat land fire case study of the Kepulauan Meranti District

Abstract

Abstract Forest fires in Indonesia are 99% due to human intentional factors. The practice of burning forests is done because it is easy, fast, and inexpensive, and the assumption that the ashes produced will fertilize the soil. The practice of burning forests is done primarily for the purpose of clearing agricultural land and plantations. Land and forest fires will be even worse if they occur on peat lands. Fires on peat lands consist of crown fire, surface fire, and ground fire which have a more severe impact on environmental, social and economic impacts. In terms of management, it is also more difficult and longer than fires on mineral land. On the other hand, pea tlands in Indonesia, 30%, are peat lands that have the potential for agricultural and plantation cultivation. The main objective of this paper is to use spatial modeling to provide an early warning system for forest fires on peat lands based on anthropogenic aspects in the Meranti Islands Regency, Riau Province. Data compiled based on anthropogenic aspects include: accessibility, population distribution, land clearing patterns, land use, and land status. Spatial analysis was carried out on anthropogenic aspects and the distribution of hotspots that had a level of confident (c> 80%). The results of the paper indicate that anthropogenic aspects that are dominant in the occurrence of forest fires are accessibility of road than river.