In 2014 and 2015, South East Asia experienced some of the worst incidences of haze caused by the widespread forest fire in Indonesia, which were exacerbated by the El Niño weather phenomenon.

The causes of fires vary greatly. The impacts can be catastrophic, including loss of life and loss of primary biodiversity. We understand that fires present long-term commercial risks and potential costs are high. Wider risks also include threats to national climate change goals, environmental sustainability and poverty reduction.

Monitoring of Meteorological Parameters

A dozen weather stations have been setup at strategically important locations in PTSSS/UP. These provide a large amount of micro-climate information critical to, particularly, make accurate fire-risk predictions.

Being able to predict the risk of fire allows the management in each estate to implement proactive measures, to prevent and minimize the risk of fire, as well as to be on high alert with firefighting equipment, in case of fire outbreak.

Global Forest Watch Fires (GFW Fires)

GFW Fires is a dynamic online forest monitoring and fire alert system that provides near-real time information that can empower people to better combat forest and land fires before they burn out of control.

The GFW Fires interactive map includes near real-time fire alerts from NASA and NOAA, real-time wind direction and air quality data, maps of concessions and forest cover, high-resolution satellite images, and geo-tagged social media conversations about where fires occur.

Plantations under United Plantations Berhad have subscribed to the monitoring system to receive fire alert when there is fire occurrence within estate territory as well as 500m of outer ring.

Zero Burning Policy

Our fire prevention is managed through our strict zero burning policy since 1989, as well as through our fire management and monitoring standard operating procedure. These are continuously reviewed to ensure they are effective. Our emergency response teams (ERTs) are regularly trained in fire prevention and fire –fighting in all our plantations.

Trainings are done regularly in-house, as well as in conjunction with the local authority, fire brigades and the Ministry of Forestry. Any fire starts within an outer ring of 500 m from any of our plantations’ borders are immediately reported to the local fire brigade for their action.

A fire within an outer ring of 500 m is fought by our ERTs. We embrace fire safety in various ways such as promoting anti-smoking, tracking and identifying fire brigade locations and water sources.

Our goal is to the eradication of fire as a means to clear land by the local communities. We conduct periodic fire drills to ensure the preparedness of our emergency response team (ERT) as well as functionality of the firefighting equipment. This year we did experience a short period of drought in Indonesia. There were some isolated fire incidents which burnt approximately 30Ha of grassland. However the fire was immediately extinguished by our ERT in PTSSS.

Hectares Burnt In Fires

Lada (Kumai) Estate conducted training on fire with participation of neighbouring communities.

Outer Ring Range of ≤500m