Spatiotemporal Distribution of Peatland Fires in Kapuas District, Central Kalimantan Province, Indonesia

Peatland fires occur almost every year in Indonesia, with the 1997/1998 El Nino event contributing 13-40% of global carbon emissions. In Kapuas District, there are hundreds of thousands of hectares of peatland located in the former Million Hectare Peatland Development Project area, which was opened massively in 1995. The construction of canals resulted in the drying of the peat ecosystem, making the area prone to fires that produce significant carbon emissions. The factors contributing to peatland fires are related to both biophysical and human activities. Rainfall is a critical factor, with low rainfall during the dry season from August to October contributing to the increase in hotspot activity. Human activities, such as distance from villages, roads, and rivers, also play a significant role in determining the risk of peatland fires. Land cover is another important factor, with 48% of fires occurring in areas with specific land cover types. The study area, Kapuas District, is one of the most fire-prone areas in Central Kalimantan Province, with frequent forest and land fires occurring in peatlands. The district is classified as a high-risk area due to the presence of millions of hectares of ex-Million Hectare Peatland Development Project areas. The research team collected data on hotspot activity, land cover, distance from rivers and roads, and peat thickness, and analyzed the relationships between these factors and fire occurrence. The study found that hotspots with confidence values above 50% were strongly indicative of peat fires. The hotspots were compared to forest fire spots and ground check results, and the results showed that hotspots with confidence values above 70% and 90% were closely related to real fire locations. The analysis of monthly hotspots in peatland areas revealed a trend of increasing hotspot activity from August to October, corresponding to the dry season. The study also analyzed the spatial distribution of hotspots in relation to biophysical and human activities factors, including land cover, distance from rivers and roads, and peat thickness. The results showed that hotspots were more likely to occur in areas with specific land cover types, such as swamp shrubs, and in areas with high peat thickness. The study concluded that peatland conservation areas and unmanaged land in Kapuas District are vulnerable to fires and recommended that the government implement measures to improve land utilization and protect peatland conservation areas. The study's findings have significant implications for forest fire management in Kapuas District and Central Kalimantan Province. The results highlight the importance of considering biophysical and human activities factors in understanding the distribution of peatland fires. The study's methodology and results can be used to develop early warning systems for forest and land fires in the region.