Last July, APRIL Group launched the inaugural Fire-Free Village Programme (FFVP), a collaborative multi-stakeholder ground-up intiative aimed at preventing fires in traditionally fire-prone areas in Riau. In the last one year, the fire prevention initiative has since made great strides.

Following a successful pilot, the FFVP launched with 9 participating villages in July 2015. Its five-prong prevention approach have resulted in a 90% reduction in fires.

The promising results have encouraged the expansion of the FFVP in 2016 to include 20 villages, supported by 55 villages in the complementary Fire Aware Community program.

News of its success have also inspired the formation of the Fire Free Alliance (FFA), comprising founding members APRIL Group and Asian Agri, among other forestry and agriculture companies, NGOs, state authorities and communities. The Fire Free Alliance aims to scale up the implementation of the FFVP.

RGE companies in the FFVP have worked tirelessly to implement the programme, walking the ground and onboarding communities. A lot of time was spent on fire prevention education and awareness campaigns, and alternative methods to land-clearing were also provided to villages.

This endeavour represents the 4 Cs philosophy of Sukanto Tanoto and the RGE group of companies. The efforts put into fire prevention and the outcomes achieved from successful fire prevention are not only good for company, but good for community, good for country and good for the climate.