During the 1997-98 Indonesia forest fire, many national governments and international agencies tried their best to help Indonesia and other affected countries to suppress fires to minimize the impacts. However, there was lack of information about active forest fires and base line data about water resources, transport networks, land use patterns, topography types, location of settlements, etc. Although emphasis was given on immediate fire suppression, everybody realized that there should be long-term strategy measures to mitigate the occurrence of disasters due to forest fires in future. Establishment of an effective early warning mechanism was the focus of discussion by most of the actors involved with forest fire mitigation in the ASEAN region.

UNEP through its facilities at Environment Assessment Program for Asia-Pacific (EAP.AP), Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, tried to develop a project document to develop an "Early Warning System and Forest Fire Hazard Mapping" by using remote sensing and GIS technology. Another activity was to procure satellite images to build the capacity in analysing remote sensing data to detect 'hot spots' and active forest fires from space. The outputs of the present study were a project document describing an early warning mechanism, some satellite images showing active forest fires and the presentation materials to show to the decision makers in the region.

There is a need for:

• Planning for forest fire prevention;
• Forest fire detection and monitoring;
• Forest fire early warning mechanism;
• Improved communication system among the ASEAN member countries.

The following results were expected towards end of the present study: 

• The methodology and techniques are developed for forest fire hazard mapping, early fire detection, monitoring and early warning;
• Different types of satellite images are examined to see the possibility of using space technology to detect and monitor forest fires.

4. Outputs 

The following outputs were achieved from the present activities:

• A Concept Paper describing the detailed methodology of using satellite remote sensing technology for forest fire hazard mapping, early fire detection and monitoring;
• Acquisition of Satellite data showing active forest fires; and
• Presentation materials on Forest Fire Early Warning System.

The following activities were performed to achieve the mentioned outputs:

1. Literature review of available methodologies of forest fire detection and monitoring

2. An inventory of available satellites whose data could be useful in forest fire detection and monitoring

3. Examination of the available communication system for forest fire information dissemination

4. Preparation of the Concept Paper cum Project Proposal on "Early Warning System and Forest Fire Hazard Mapping in Indonesia".

1. Inventory of satellite data showing active forest fires

2. Consultation with various satellite companies on various possibilities of using remote sensing technology for forest fire detection and monitoring

3. Acquisition of different kinds of satellite data during the fire season

4. Analysis of the satellite data

5. Presentation of the results in various forest fire meetings in ASEAN region

The main objective of preparing the concept paper was to make aware of the decision makers in the ASEAN region about the forest fire and haze problem and available satellite technology to monitor and mitigate forest fires. The concept paper was presented at the Haze Technical Task Force (HTTF) and ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Environment (AMME) from time to time. The project was endorsed at the HTTF meeting in Kuala Lumpur on 30 July 1998. The acquired satellite images are also being utilized for various purposes such as, teaching, making awareness among the decision makers in the region about the availability of technology to mitigate disasters.