Canal solution for Riau peatland fires

Sat, 03/08/2008 12:09 PM  |  The Archipelago

PEKANBARU: The Bengkalis regency administration in Riau province will construct 30 canals to irrigate peatland in Bukit Batu subdistrict as a fire prevention effort.

Last month, fires razed 1,600 hectares of peatland in the regency.

"With the canals and the irrigation system, no more forest fires are expected next year," Bengkalis Regent Samsyurizal said here Thursday.

He said the local government would also close canals made by illegal loggers to transport logs.

A forestry expert at Lancang Kuning University in Pekanbaru, Jonotoro, said the construction of the canals would help prevent fires on the peatland.

"The canals must be kept full with water to prevent fires spreading from one block to others. Dry peatland is quite prone to fires," he said. --JP

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