Forest fire susceptibility and risk mapping assessment in Sumatra, Indonesia by remotely sensing data

In tropical countries like Indonesia, forest fires are common natural or human-induced disasters that occur throughout the Southeast Asian region all year around. It’s also known for its rich biodiversity and extensive peatlands, which are particularly vulnerable due to circumstances and risk factors. Thus, the research aims to shed light on forest fire susceptibility mapping and assessing high-risk zones based on land use, vegetation type, and climatic factors. This study utilized remote sensing through Google Earth Engine (GEE) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to evaluate forest fire risk in Sumatra, Indonesia, a region facing challenges such as rapid palm oil plantation development, timber concessions, and active peatland fires. Tropical rainforests, peatlands, and diverse ecosystems characterize Sumatra. The region is often affected by natural forest fires (e.g., El Niño events) and human-induced activities (e.g., illegal land clearing for plantation purposes). Forest fire locations in the study area were identified using historical hotspot data from 2014 to 2022. Fire risk assessments are typically generated using spectral indices to classify the spatial distribution of damage caused by fires; first, forest fire susceptibility through a combined index calculated by adding classified fire risk, forest loss index, normalized slope, aspect, temperature, and relative humidity. This index indicates potential fire risk and demonstrates how to integrate various geospatial datasets, such as vegetation indices, topography, and climate data, within GEE to assess forest fire risk. Then, we evaluated the feasibility of using remote sensing data to identify fire causes by validating forest fire occurrence factors. This study demonstrates how detailed risk assessment provides an effective method of managing forest fires in Riau Province, Sumatra, Indonesia, which can contribute to reducing the frequency and severity of fires, and improve sustainable forest management and governance.