Historical Forest fire Occurrence Analysis in Jambi Province During the Period of 2000 – 2015: Its Distribution & Land Cover Trajectories☆

Abstract Forest and land fire in Indonesia have been given much attention since it creates environmental problems every year. Instead of its negative impacts, fire cannot be separated from agricultural system in the tropics. Moreover, under the regulation, the farmer is allowed to use fire for land preparation under 2 hectares. However, fire utilization is prohibited for land preparation in concessionaries. In facts, some companies are utilized fire for economics reason even though some of them are refused to admit. Therefore, it is interesting to know on what is really occur in the field related to the fire occurrence. Objectives of the research are to determine distribution of fire occurrence based on historical hot spot data during 15 years period (2001-2015), and analysis land cover as well as land use trajectories before and after fire occurrence in Jambi Province. Result showed, fire tend to occur in peat land every year, either during El Nino or La Nina period. Land covers before fire occurrence mostly were bush and disturbed secondary forest. It was also revealed that fire was also utilized by companies (oil palm and forest plantation). During period of analysis, on average, 20.67% was converted into forest plantation and 27.06% was converted into palm oil plantation, meanwhile the rest areas (52.27%) were community land area.