Ancaman Kebakaran Hutan di Taman Nasional Bantimurung Bulusaraung, Provinsi Sulawesi Selatan

Abstract

The National Park of Bantimurung Bulusaraung located in Maros Regency, South Sulawesi Province, is a unique conservation area with a karst ecosystem. Forest fires have been an essential threat to the National Park.  The study aims to analyze forest fire occurrences, identify causes and forest fire prevention efforts at the National Park of Bantimurung Bulusaraung, Maros Regency, South Sulawesi. Data used in this study consist of monthly forest fire data from the National Park of Bantimurung Bulusaraung and monthly rainfall data from the Agency of Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics in the period of 2015-2020, and information on fire causes, community participation in forest fire prevention derived from respondents of villagers living surrounding the national park. Data analyses using JASP 0.14.1 software. The study revealed that forest fires occur every year at the National Park of Bantimurung Bulusaraung with fires frequency of 20 times and burned area of 163,455 ha  from 2015 to 2020. The highest frequency occurred in 2015 of 8 times and burned area about 97,065 ha. The human factor has been the single fire causing factor, particularly negligence in fire use activities. There are several prevention measures conducted by the National Park management, including the socialization and training activities for community. The unique karst ecosystem seems to be a challenge in the fire suppression process.  Therefore, forest fire prevention involving community living surrounding the national park is critical in forest fire control in the National Park of Bantimurung Bulusaraung.

Keywords: community participation, fire causes, fire prevention, karst ecosystem