Community empowerment for reducing the risk of peatland fires in the wetland area of South Kalimantan

Abstract

Fires that continue to occur in the dry season, cause fire management to be carried out immediately. Community empowerment in fire suppression is essential to improve. This study analyzes community empowerment in fire management in fire-prone peatland areas in South Kalimantan, Indonesia. The number of samples in this study was 250 people directly involved in empowerment activities in fire-prone areas. There are 37 questions about physical capital, social capital, human capital, ability in empowerment, empowerment process and community empowerment—data analysis using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results show that physical capital, social capital and empowerment capabilities have not formed communities that can make decisions and are independent in combating peatland fires. Community empowerment programs are limited to volunteer groups and do not cover all community groups.