Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food launches two new volumes of its children’s storybook Rumbun and Jungle Friends to promote fire prevention education in schools
Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food today launched the second and third editions of its children’s storybook Rumbun and Jungle Friends in Siak, Riau, as a part of its long-term community-based fire prevention programme Desa Makmur Peduli Api (DMPA). The storybooks assist teachers to educate elementary and junior high school students about the importance of preventing forest fires, and preserving peatlands.
The first edition of this storybook was launched in and around the company’s operational areas most prone to fires. Working closely with the local education office and teachers, the storybook provided elementary school children with easy-to-understand information about forest fires and preventative measures. Approximately, 6,000 storybooks were distributed to schools in fire-prone areas such as Sumatra, Kalimantan and Papua.
In the next few months, around 7,500 Rumbun and Jungle Friends storybook volumes two and three will be distributed to children, teachers and the community in the Company’s plantation areas located in fire-prone areas.
Septianus Harianja, Vice President Agronomy Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food in Riau said, “The company’s fire mitigation efforts include focusing on long-term solutions to prevent forest fires in and around our concessions. Our children are our future and early education about forest and land fire prevention is important. By working with the community schools and their teachers, we hope to foster students’ understanding of forest fires, their impact on the ecosystem, and proactive prevention measures that can start from a young age.”
Following the successful launch of the first volume in 2020, the new editions introduce children to the teams involved in fire management and prevention, the tools and equipment used and the importance of safeguarding peatlands.
During the kick-off launch in Riau, around 75 of students, teachers and headmasters from several schools in Siak took part in storytelling activities, peat educational games, introductions to land firefighting infrastructure and facilities, and a live simulation of how to extinguish a fire.
As a part of our multi-stakeholder approach to preventing forest and land fires, we have also partnered with Manggala Agni, commonly known as the Forest and Land Fire Control Brigade under the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, to strengthen our team’s fire prevention capabilities. Edwin Putra, S.Hut, M.Si, Regional Coordinator Manggala Agni in Riau Province, said, “Our mission is to raise public awareness of the dangers of fires, both to forest resources and to communities. Through this initiative, the young generation will gain a better understanding of forest fires and be encouraged to advocate for responsible practices related to fire prevention and control.”
