Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - An expert team from the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) conducted verification and took samples of former burned land of two oil palm concession (HGU) of PT Tasnida Agro Lestari (TAL) and PT Agri Bumi Sentosa (ABS) in Barito Kuala District, South Kalimantan, Tuesday (Dec 3, 2019).
"Sample taking is to examine the causes of fire and environment damage that occured," said Prof Bambang Hero Saharjo, IPB forest fire expert at the location of PT TAL's land cultivation right (HGU).
The team took some samples, including charcoal from burned trees, top soil, the lower part, till fresh branches of tree as comparation. Even insect lived in the area were taken for sample.
"We will reconstruct the samples in the fields with scientific evidence based on information from satellite to confirm the point of fire. We actually have found the information then we should apply it," he added.
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Not only Prof Bambang, investigators from South Kalimantan Police Special Crimes Investigation Directorate (Ditreskrimsus Polda Kalsel), who probe into forest and land fire cases in the two corporate oil palm plantation, also presented Dr Basuki Wasis, IPB's expert on environmental damage.
He highlighted the damage to galam forest on the land. Whereas galam as the original swamp wood plant that grow in shallow peat forest essentially need to be maintained for the balance of nature.
Chief of Sub-directorate IV Tipidter (Certain Criminal Acts) of the directorate Adj Sr Comr (AKBP) Endang Agustina said, the increased of the status of investigation of the two companies was based on Government Regulation No.4 of 2001 concerning Curb on Environmental Damage and Pollution related to forest and land fires.
"Furthermore, investigators wait for the results of the laboratory examinations in Bogor on the samples brought by expert team. If the results have come out, we ask for expert information to later determine the suspect from the case results," he said.
Endang revealed, the mapping result with National Land Agency (BPN) was about 290 hectares of PT TAL HGU land in Balukung Village, Bakumpai Sub-district, burned on September 2019. Then about 1,000 hectares of PT ABS's HGU land in Tabukan Sub-district.
"There are no oil palm plant on the burned land. But usually it will be planted with oil palm after that," he said again.
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The taking of samples by expert team was also witnessed by representatives of the two companies, including PT TAL GM Nyoman Pasek, who was known to the company by its Malaysian investors.
Nyoman Pasek claimed the fire started from the local resident's land in Jambu Village, then spred to PT TAL's HGU.
"we are also trying to extinguish. This area is in conflict with residents, so it has not been planted with oil palm. The area has been planted is 3.000 hectares," he said.
Ditreskrimsus had brought the same expert when previously investigate forest and land fire case of two companies in Sungai Batang Village, Martapura Barat Sub-district, Banjar.
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