BRIN develops groundwater level monitoring system to curb wildfires

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3 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) is developing a Groundwater Level (GWL) monitoring system to reduce the risk of forest and land fires, especially on peatlands.

Albertus Sulaiman, head of BRIN’s Climate and Atmosphere Research Center, noted that the system will be used to monitor water conditions in peatlands, identify changes that signal an increased fire risk, and track carbon emissions from these areas.

“GWL can be used as an early warning system to find out when land is becoming vulnerable to fires,” he said in a statement in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Sulaiman emphasized that groundwater monitoring is vital for risk reduction, as shifts in water levels provide early indicators of potential fires. When the water table approaches or drops below critical thresholds, smoke indicators usually follow.

He further said that data collected through the system will help researchers understand hydrological changes in peatlands and support decision-making for land management.

According to him, findings from BRIN’s recent study show that peat swamp forests help modulate local rainfall, underscoring their critical role in climate resilience.

These ecosystems store massive amounts of carbon, maintain hydrological balance, and contribute to local rainfall generation through their natural ecological processes.

“Therefore, keeping peatlands wet and healthy is not only essential to prevent fires but also to maintain their ecological functions,” Sulaiman remarked.

He stressed that peat swamp forest research needs a multidisciplinary approach involving collaboration across multiple BRIN research centers.

He also underscored the importance of groundwater monitoring to determine the vulnerability of peatlands to fires. Naturally, peatlands can store large amounts of water. When they dry out, the risk of fire increases.

Land management for cultivation often leads to canal construction, Sulaiman noted. On plantations, for instance, canals are used to manage water levels.

However, if this causes the water table to drop too low, the peat becomes drier and more vulnerable to fire.