Questions/Answers

Forest and land fires in Indonesia have become a serious problem in recent decades, causes economic and ecological losses, disrupts health, socio-cultural activities, and transportation, and affects Indonesia's relations with neighboring countries. This experience shows the importance of improving the forest and land fires management in Indonesia, including managing data and information. Previously, hotspots data were issued by different of institutions, causing confusion and uncoordinated effort. Another problem is that the processing and dissemination of hotspot is done manually and depends on the operator which affects the response and performance of field personnel, consequently limiting and slowing down the process, with a dissemination time of 1 day and a response time of approximately 2-3 days. To overcome this situation, an information system for early warning and detection, named SiPongi, was developed, which can be accessed at http://sipongi.menlhk.go.id. This system is synchronized every 30 minutes and near real time, so as to increase the effectiveness of monitoring and response time to just 1 days and improve the coordination of forest and land fires in Indonesia. This innovation combines early warning and detection data such as Fire Danger Rating System (FDRS), hotspots (Terra, Aqua, SNPP, NOAA and Landsat 8), air pollutant information and many more. This system equipped with an Android application, supported by social media and SMS blast to make it easily accessible to the wider community. The objectives of developing SiPongi is to improve the forest and Land Fire Early Warning and Detection System in Indonesia; encourage the participation of stakeholders from national, provincial and regencies/city, including the community with the principles of gender equality; integrated data and information related to forest and land fires; and provide accurate data and information for the operationalization of forest and land fire control activities for prevention, suppression and post-fire efforts including law enforcement.

SiPongi is a forest and land fire Early Warning and Detection System. It developed to increase effectiveness and performance, which can reduce impact of forest and land fire disaster. This system consists of website, mobile application, SMS Blast, and social media, integrated with field data, in line with Indonesia’s One Data/ One Map Policy. This system enables leaders, officials, and the public to obtain near real time data, then immediately responded to areas prone to fires, minimize damage, shorten response times, develops strategies for prevention, suppression, increase awareness, and community resilience in the efforts of controlling forest and land fire.

SiPongi innovation align with SDG target number 13 Climate Action (indicators 13.1.2 and 13.1.3). SiPongi strengthens the resilience and adaptive capacity of the community to the disasters of forest and land fires in accordance with the objectives of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030. SiPongi reaches 514 regencies/cities in Indonesia through SMS blasts, and have been visited by 900 thousand users on websites, android applications, and social media. Sipongi system align with target indicator 13.2.2, increases the response time and synergy of stakeholders contributed to a 37% reduction in the burnt area in 2019 (1.65 million ha) compared to the 2015 baseline (2.6 million ha). This has an impact on reducing Indonesia's GHG emissions so that it gets funding incentives from the Result-based Payment mechanism for REDD+ amounting to USD 103.8 million. SiPongi also align with the SDG No. 15 Life On Land (indicators 15.2.1), progress towards sustainable forest management by accelerates the flow of information on forest and land fires, thereby increasing personnel speed response which can reduce damage to Indonesia's forest covering an area of 94.1 million ha which supports 25,863 villages around forests, equivalent to 9.2 million households.

Land and forest fire control effort is one of Indonesia's National Priorities. Therefore, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry as data custodian of forest and land fire control ensures funding for the management and development of this innovation. SiPongi system is interactive which accommodate input from the public regarding data and information needs as well as keeping up with dynamic trends in technology and society. SiPongi reaches 514 regencies/cities in Indonesia through SMS blasts (mainly the area that not covered by internet network). SiPongi has been accessed by nearly 900 thousand people through its website, android application, and social media.

SiPongi becomes a national reference for forest and land fires data and information in Indonesia. SiPongi synchronizes early warning and detection of forest and land fires in collaboration with other stakeholders by sharing roles in providing data and information. Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF) provides data on burned areas, forest and land fire emissions, and air pollution. National Institute of Aeronautics and Space of Indonesia (LAPAN) provides hotspot data and satellite imagery. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) provides weather and climate information. The National Disaster Management Authority (BNPB) acts as the coordinator in disaster management, while other stakeholders (local government, private sector, Manggala Agni, and and the community can participate in delivering information on forest and land fires. These information are displayed in the SiPongi system and accessible to the public. The SiPongi system improve data coordination and integration as well asdisaster management governance in controlling forest and land fires, through a system of one data policy. This collaborative initiative is able to connect institutions and increase the efficiency of forest and land fire control which is an important aspect in reducing the extent of forest and land fires in Indonesia.

SiPongi innovation is designed and developed with the principles of gender equality. All community groups including women are given equal opportunities in every process of development and management of the system. There are 10 women in the forest and land fire command center activities as well as 83 women in Manggala Agni response team. This system is accessible by anyone regardless of gender. Even today, a woman is entrusted with the responsibility for operational management and development of SiPongi. This can be an inspiration for Indonesian women to take part and contribute optimally in their respective fields of work.

Main target group for SiPongi are field personnel and community, especially those affected by forest and land fire disaster. The forest areas support 25,863 villages around the forest, consisting of 9.2 million households. With this system, the global community is spared from climate change effects, one of which caused by forest and land fires, by preserving Indonesia's forests that covering an area of 94.1 million ha or 50.1% of the entire land area of Indonesia and one of largest forest in the world. SiPongi also targets institutional ministries; local governments; forestry plantation/ mining company; army, police and others. SiPongi strenghten collaborative partnerships for forest and land fire control in Indonesia among stakeholders so that the steps/efforts to prevent and control forest and land fires after the 2015 fire crisis well planned and coordinated. In addition this system is essential during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the beginning, experts distressed that the COVID-19 pandemic aggravate if fire broke out that posed respiratory problems. Sipongi system increases response time and synergy of stakeholders contributed to a 37% reduction in the burnt area in 2019 (1.65 million ha). So that a deadly duet of forest and land fires and Covid 19 does not occur.

SiPongi system provide an automated, complete, fast and accurate early warning and detection information as well as being the main reference for information on forest and land fires in Indonesia. In 2014, SiPongi system prototype development process was carried out by communication and coordination with related stakeholders followed by a prototype tested for data stability and consistency, and built an operational space. SiPongi began operating officially in Januari 2015 and was launched by the Minister of Environment and Forestry in March 2015. Since then, this system has undergone several developments due to needs and merger of institutions. Since the beginning, SiPongi already connected with Facebook,Twitter, and then Instagram in 2017. In the same year, along with the merging of the Management Agency for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (BPREDD+) into the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the hotspot clustering function of Forest and Land Fire Monitoring System (KMS) application from BPREDD+ is merged into SiPongi as well as modified the entire display. Furthermore, in 2018, additions features include user count, online reporting from forestry, plantation and mining company. In 2019, SiPongi added mobile aplication based on android and pollutant index. Furthermore in 2020 SiPongi was added emision feature and prepare to upgraded to Sipongi Plus by rearranging the system; simplifying layers, changing the appearance of the application to make it more sophisticated and fast response, hotspot groundcheck features, data hotspots reach the regencies/city, additional monitoring satellites and as well as hardware revitalization. Self-monitoring and Evaluation is carried out periodically to ensure the running of the system. External Monitoring and evaluation carried out through an audit of the Government Internal Control System (SPIP) to see the effectiveness of the implementation of this system and also align with the Directorate General Climate Change policy which implements ISO 9001-2015.

In the first year, SiPongi's was not well known to the public. We promoted it through exhibitions, technical guidance, coordination between institutions and social media. Inaccuracies in hotspots occurred with LAPAN due to changes in the algorithm and transfer system, it was resolved with coordination and renewed cooperation with LAPAN. SiPongi faces problems in disseminating information to areas are not covered by the internet network, this is overcame by establishing a collaboration with the Ministry of of Communication and Informatics to launch SMS Blast for early warning of forest and land fires disasters which can reach 514 regencies/cities allover Indonesia

This innovation changes data processing from manual toautomated. Collaboration with other institutions enables thesynchronization of data and information into an integratedand efficient system. The advantage and uniqueness of SIPONGI system is that it has dual interfaces, namely Internal Interface and Public Interface. Internal Interface is for internal personnels from the central to the site level, aiming to shorten the command system from leadership to field personnel. Meanwhile, public interface is accessible by stakeholders and communities throughout Indonesia. Currently hotspot data is synchronized every 30 minutes/ near-real-time. The idea of this innovation has inspired the emergence of similar innovations in Indonesia.

None.

SiPongi innovation changes data proccessing from manual to automatic. The data near real time and updates every 30 minutes, also minimizes human error. Information can be immediately responded by field personnel, accelerating the command system, digital archiving tobe analyzed immediately, andenables interactive public participation. This system brings positive changes to the efficiency of forest and land fire control to minimize environmental damage due to forest and land fires. Collaboration for data integration in the corridor of one data policy is also fulfilled, which increase effectiveness due to the division of roles and obligations to provide different data.

SiPongi innovation’s ideas, systems and technology are adaptable and tranferrable. There are several applications that have adopted the idea of SiPongi to facilitate coordination of forest and land fire control in local level, especially in areas prone to forest and land fires. The innovators of SiPongi frequently become speakers, consultants, and reviewers for the development and improvement of warning systems and other early detection owned by stakeholders; such as LAPAN which provide hotspot data; the Ina-FDRS (Fire Danger Rating System) application developed by the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT); the new Peat FDRS application which will be developed by the Environment Research, Development and Innovation Agency of MoEF and Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), The early warning system on land fire in plantation area which will be developed by the Directorate General of Plantation, Ministry of Agriculture; and other applications with different purposes but with the same idea within the MoEF for monitoring of Toxic Hazardous Materials; emission (SIGN SMART), vulnerablity of Climate Change (SIDIK) and many more. In addition, SiPongi has received offers to be integrated with other applications (FIRECAST, 2017 and FORMS, 2020). But until now it is still managed by MoEF.

Already explained.

SiPongi is developed and maintained using the Ministry of Environment and Forestry budget. For daily operations there are 8 core personnels with qualifications such as mapping, administration, and web management, while, system and hardware maintenance management is done by third parties. There are 32 people in the command centre with daily schedule arrangements. Hotspot data sources were acquired from LAPAN, Weather Data and FDRS from BMKG, pollutant index from Directorate of Air Pollution Control, Emission from the Directorate of Greenhouse Gas Inventory. the SMS blast, early fire disaster warning is supported by the Ministry of Communication and Informatics.

Control of forest and land fires become National Priority of the Indonesian Government. Sipongi is a main reference in line with the appointment of the Directorate for Forest and Land Fire Management, as the forest and land fires data custodian through Decree of Head of Geospatial Information Agency (BIG) Number 27 of 2019 concerning Thematic Geospatial Information. SiPongi system follows trends in technology and society. SiPongi reaches 514 regencies/cities in Indonesia through SMS blasts (mainly the area that not covered by internet network). SiPongi has been accessed by nearly 900 thousand people through its website, android application, and social media.

Yes

SiPongi evaluated reguarly by administrators, the Government Internal Monitoring System (SPIP) and ISO 9001-2015 auditors. Administrators conduct monthly and semester evaluations including performance, disruptions, reviews, trends and technological developments. The evaluation results are followed up with improvements, additional features or other actions. The Government Internal Control System (SPIP) evaluates every 3 months which refers to a significant risk that hinders the implementation of activities with indicators of resources and effectiveness. Directorate General of Climate Change has also implemented ISO 9001-2015 which evaluate implementation referring to customer focus, leadership, engagement of people, process approach, improvement, evidence based decision making, relationship management.

Indicators include reduced disruption (warnings sent to managers if system errors); number of users; SiPongi serve 514 regencies/cities in Indonesia; increasing the number of follow-up feedback/reviews; improve response time from 3 days to 1 day which contributed to a reduction burnt area by 37% in 2019 (1.65 million ha) compared to 2015 (2.6 million Ha); satellite monitoring from 3 to 4 satellite; new collaboration with other institutio, recognition from the public and stakeholders with the appointment of the Directorate of Forest and Land Fire Control as data custodian, SiPongi become main reference of forest and land fire data.

The evaluation results including the sort of human resources, need system improvement, system development, the popularity of the system and the effectiveness as well as budget requirements. We responded to by conducting training for administrators and operators, embedding new features to simplify data and information management carried out by limited personnel, periodically perform system maintenance and mirroring, revitalize hardware, adjusting the SOP for the implementation, as well as carrying out system development. Funding for this system is routinely budgeted/allocated by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry for maintenance and development, additional features and mobile applications, revitalization of supporting facilities, command centre, and operation rooms. SiPongi has changed the pattern of forest and land fires monitoring in Indonesia. Prior the system, data manually processing and dissemination limited only for personnel. Now the system is automatic, near real time and updates every 30 minuttes accessible to the public. This system has been accessed by nearly 900 thousand visitors via the web, mobile applications and social media. The results of coordination with related stakeholders also provide input in evaluating the SiPongi system. In addition, many studies have referred to Sipongi data and have even evaluated the effectiveness of the SiPongi system.

In 2016, the agreement resulted from a meeting among institutions agreed that the institution responsible for releasing official data of for hotspots and areas of forest and land fires was the Ministry of Environment and Forestry cq the Directorate of Forest and Land Fire Control followed by he Letter of Minister of Environment and Forestry No. S.218/MENLHK/PPI/PPI.4/4/2016 concerning Hotspot Data Synergy on 20 April 2016. In 2019, the Directorate of Forest and Land Fire Control was appointed as a forest and land fire data custodian through the Decree of Head of Geospatial Information Agency Number 27 of 2019 concerning Thematic Geospatial Information Walidata, hence data Sipongi website becomes main reference of forest and land fires data for government institutions, namely The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Presidential Staff Office, and The National Disaster Management Authority and many more. Further coordination and integration of data is carried out. Collaboration of stakeholders in providing data and information, as well as facilitation of related Ministries and Institutions (LAPAN, BMKG, Kemenkominfo, and others), strengthening cooperation regarding the roles of each institution to complement each other and lead to data harmonization in the corridors of one policy map forest and land fires.

Collaboration and cooperation among the stakeholder strengthen the Sipongi system. In developing the SiPongi system involves the internal parties of Ministry of Environment and Forestry and several stakeholders such as LAPAN, BMKG, BNPB and BIG to get input and collect the availability of data and information on forest and land fires. During the implementation, the Ministry of Environtment and Forestry (MoEF) provides emissions data of forest and land fires as well as air quality, LAPAN contributes hotspot data, BMKG provides weather and climate information, BNPB coordinates disaster management, as well as stakeholders at site level, local government, private sector/permit holders, Manggala Agni which provides field data as well as communities who can participate in delivering information on forest and land fires. Monitoring and evaluation of this system is evaluated internally by the system administrators and externally through an audit of the Government Internal Control System to see the effectiveness of the implementation of this system. Administrators also always seek for input from users to improve the system. End users may evaluate the system performance, while reviews can be done on the Google Play Store. This system also open for academic reviews and research.

Prior to the existence of the system, data processing was inefficient, carried out semi-manually, limited distribution, inaccurate reporting and data unsynchronize, personnel responses is slow and manual data archiving. With this innovation (SiPongi system), data processing is carried out automatically and dissemination is almost real time, making it efficient and effective and minimizing human error. Information can be immediately response by field personnel, speed up the command system, leaders can directly monitor performance in the field and digital archives that can be analyzed immediately and are more interactive. Collaboration and cooperation between institutions and community participation are one of the strengths of the SiPongi system. The SiPongi system is an important innovation driving pattern change, accelerating processes and synergizing the key stakeholders in managing forest and land fire in Indonesia. Steps and efforts to control forest and land fires are more compact, planned and coordinated. This extra-coordinated effort was made to be one of the key factors in reducing the area of forest and land fires after 2015 (2.6 million Ha) to 1,649,258 in 2019 or 37% of the 2015 baseline, which shows the effectiveness of the SiPongi system. The current Sipongi system has the inspiration for a similar system.