BRIN Develops Tech to Monitor Groundwater and Cut Peatland Fires
- 02 Sep 2026 12:46 WIB
- Voice of Indonesia
Poin Utama
- BRIN is developing a Ground Water Level (GWL) monitoring system to reduce the risk of forest and land fires, particularly in Indonesia’s peatland areas.
- The GWL system monitors peatland water conditions and can provide early indications of increasing fire risk.
RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The National Innovation and Research Agency (BRIN) of Indonesia is integrating cross-disciplinary research, from atmospheric science and climate studies to hydrology, to address the complex challenge of peatland fires in Indonesia. Through the development of a groundwater monitoring system, science is being positioned at the forefront of efforts to sustainably safeguard the ecological functions of the country’s landscapes.
BRIN is developing a groundwater monitoring system, known as the Ground Water Level (GWL) system, to reduce the risk of forest and land fires, particularly in peatland areas.
Head of BRIN’s Climate and Atmosphere Research Center, Albertus Sulaiman, said the system is used to monitor water conditions in peatland areas. The instrument can identify increases in fire risk while also monitoring carbon emissions generated by the ecosystem.
“GWL can be used as an early warning system to determine when land is beginning to show the potential to catch fire,” he said in a statement in Jakarta on Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
Albertus emphasized that groundwater monitoring is important for reducing risks, as changes in the GWL can provide early information on the potential occurrence of fires. When the groundwater level approaches or passes a certain critical threshold, indications of smoke can subsequently be detected.
He said the data obtained could serve as a basis for understanding changes in peat hydrological conditions and support decision-making in land management. BRIN’s latest research shows that peat swamp forests play a role in modulating local rainfall, underscoring their importance for climate resilience.
These ecosystems can store large amounts of carbon, maintain hydrological balance, and contribute to local rainfall formation through natural processes within the ecosystem.
“Therefore, keeping peatlands wet and healthy is important not only to prevent fires, but also to preserve their ecological functions. The study of peat swamp forests is a multidisciplinary approach and must involve cooperation among various research centers within BRIN,” said Albertus, as quoted by Antara.
In addition, Albertus underlined that water conditions are a key factor in determining peatland vulnerability to fires. Peat naturally has the capacity to retain large amounts of water; when it dries out, however, the risk of fire increases.
He said land management for cultivation purposes can also lead to the construction of canals. In plantation areas, for example, canals are used to regulate water systems.
However, if such management causes the groundwater level to fall too low, peatlands become drier and more susceptible to fires. “Why can peatlands catch fire? Because they become extremely dry. When peat is dry, there is no longer enough water to maintain its moisture,” said Albertus Sulaiman. ***
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