Indonesia steps up transboundary haze monitoring in W Kalimantan

indonesianupdates.com_admin

1 hour ago

Singkawang, W. Kalimantan (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s specialized forest firefighting brigade, Manggala Agni, has intensified systematic monitoring of forest fire smoke along the West Kalimantan border to prevent transboundary haze from drifting into neighboring Malaysia.

The operational unit based in Singkawang is tracking wind patterns, smoke density, and air quality metrics to mitigate environmental, health, and economic impacts across the border.

“Monitoring is a systematic activity of observing, detecting, measuring levels, and reporting the distribution and thickness of smoke that crosses national borders, both into our territory and neighboring countries like Malaysia,” Manggala Agni Operational Area XI/Singkawang Head Yuyu Wahyudin said on Sunday.

Wahyudin emphasized that systematic tracking serves as a vital early warning system, allowing authorities to detect smoke trajectories before air quality and public activity in border communities suffer widespread disruption.

Ground operations combine traditional surveillance, such as watchtowers, field observation posts, and targeted patrols, with satellite imagery, remote monitoring cameras, and real-time air quality sensors tracking PM2.5, PM10, and the Air Pollution Standard Index (ISPU).

Beyond field surveillance, Manggala Agni is prioritizing cross-border data sharing and regular communication with Malaysian authorities to support joint regional response strategies.

“Data exchange is crucial to support the development of joint mitigation policies, while also mitigating the health and economic impacts of haze,” Wahyudin explained.

Key parameters tracked along border routes include wind velocity, smoke coverage, hotspot density, and public health complaints.

The agency expects heightened vigilance to strengthen regional preparedness and ensure cross-border haze threats are contained at the earliest possible stage.