In our previous blog, we explored what tropical peat fires are and how they impact life in Borneo.
We covered how they start, why they are so difficult to put out, and the effect they have on people, wildlife and the global climate – this is how we stop them and how you can help.
From our community-led firefighting teams to peatland restoration projects to the new, cutting-edge drone and foam technology we use, it all forms our Integrated Fire Management plan to tackle fires predicted under the shadow of the ‘Super’ El Niño’ set to unfold later this year.
This approach addresses the underlying causes of fire while empowering local communities to protect their forests. It’s built around four key stages: prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.
The most effective way to fight peat fires is to prevent them from happening in the first place.
One of the main drivers of fire in Borneo is peatland drainage, most often a result of illegal logging canals. In Sebangau National Park, where most of our firefighting and prevention efforts take place, we have been restoring the swamp forest’s natural fireproofing with dams since 2010, now totalling more than 1,000. By slowing the flow of water out of the forest, these dams allow the peat-swamp to fill up again, ‘re-wetting’ the peat. This year, the true impact of our dam building work will be put to the test.
So far the results have been remarkable. Long-term monitoring shows significantly higher groundwater levels that help to recreate the natural conditions that make peatlands resistant to fire. Wet peat, no fires. To date, 36 canals have been completely blocked, preventing an estimated 273,526 tonnes of carbon emissions each year. Undoubtedly saving human life and wildlife in the process.
Preparing for this year’s El Niño dry season is more essential than ever before.
A network of nine community firefighting and patrol teams across the Sebangau landscape, are trained, paid and equipped ready to act. Patrols take place throughout the year, intensifying during the dry season where daily patrols in high-risk areas of the National Park are necessary. Early detection is critical. By monitoring locations where fires are most likely to start, teams can respond quickly before small incidents become major emergencies.
Patrol routes are surveyed and cleared of dense vegetation improving access so firefighters can move quickly and safely when every minute counts.
Access to water can be limited during drought conditions, boreholes are installed to ensure reliable water supplies at key locations.
We unite with local communities, schools, youth groups and government agencies to raise awareness about fire prevention with education and outreach. This helps promote responsible land management and builds support for the long-term solutions that keep the forests fire-free.
When fires burn, rapid and effective response is essential.
Since 2019, we have been using drones equipped with thermal imaging to detect and monitor peat fires. This technology is particularly valuable because peat fires burn underground, making them difficult to spot from the ground or even by satellite. Thick smoke and haze can often obscure hotspots, allowing fires to spread.
Information gathered by our drones is relayed immediately to firefighting teams, allowing them to act where they are needed most.
This improves firefighter safety too. Peat fires can behave unpredictably, appearing to die down before resurfacing elsewhere and cutting off access routes without warning. Thermal imaging enables us to identify safe pathways through affected areas and ensure teams always have a route to retreat if conditions deteriorate.
The latest innovation adopted is the use of environmentally friendly fire-suppression foam.
Peatland fires can smoulder underground for weeks, even months, foam helps water penetrate deep into the peat. In the past local communities and firefighting teams used household washing-up liquid to reduce surface tension and improve water’s effectiveness. While these products often helped to suppress fires, they could harm sensitive peatland ecosystems, affecting water quality and local biodiversity.
Modern firefighting foams are designed to achieve the same effect while being biodegradable and less damaging to the environment, allowing firefighters to tackle persistent peat fires more effectively while reducing ecological impacts.
Restoring a landscape damaged by decades of drainage and resulting fires is a long-term process. Until peatlands fully recover, fire outbreaks during dry periods will remain a risk.
When fires occur, the damage extends beyond the immediate loss of habitat. Burned areas are often more vulnerable to future fires, creating a cycle of degradation that can be difficult to break. That is why recovery forms the final stage of our Integrated Fire Management strategy.
Whilst there’s no fast way to regenerate peat, the forest ecosystem that sits above it can be replanted and restored, allowing biodiversity to bounce back.
The seedlings are supplied through our network of community-run nurseries, providing local families with a sustainable source of income while supporting forest restoration. As these trees grow, they help rebuild habitat for wildlife, improve ecosystem resilience and reduce the likelihood of future fires.
In many ways, recovery brings us back to the beginning. By restoring forests today, we strengthen their resilience against tomorrow’s fires, continuing the cycle of prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.
Our firefighting and prevention work is delivering real results, but protecting Borneo’s peatlands requires collective effort and long-term investment.
Forecasters predict this to year to be the biggest El Niño event on record (read more); there’s never been a more urgent time to support firefighting efforts.
A Super El Niño, needs a super firefighting effort. Know that we have never been more prepared than we are right now, with 25 years experience behind us working in these vital ecosystems.
Every contribution, big or small, helps us reduce the risk of devastating fires and protect these globally important ecosystems for generations. Thank you.
