Jakarta. Asia Pulp and Paper, or APP, the pulp and paper arm of conglomerate Sinar Mas Group, participated in the International Dayak Congress in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, by promoting fire management programs, according to a statement received by the Jakarta Globe on Thursday (27/06).

The international congress, which took place on July 26-27, was the first that focused on the Dayak, the indigenous people of Borneo.

One of the programs APP promoted at the congress is named the Prosperous Villages Fight Fire (DMPA), which helps improve the welfare of local farmers and encourages them to be more responsible of their immediate environments by introducing alternative techniques to land burning.

Another program introduced at the congress is the Integrated Fire Management (IFM), a series of actions aimed to prevent and mitigate forest fires, starting from forming a team of fire fighters to equipping them with advanced tools.

"Our DMPA and IFM programs are our real responses to the Forest Conservation Policy [FCP], which includes human resources development and nature conservation around our concession areas, one of which is in West Kalimantan," APP Sinar Mas director Suhendra Wiriadinata said.

The company also showcased the "Cassesart" variant of cassava, planted by farmers under APP's training.

West Kalimantan Governor Cornelis thanked the private sector for supporting the congress.

"The International Dayak Congress aims to come up with new ideas and raise awareness on the importance of improving Dayak human resources," said Cornelis, who is also the president of the National Dayak Ethnic Council (MADN).

Justice and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly also expects the congress to bring concrete advantages to the Dayak people.

"Besides being a medium for people to mingle, the first International Dayak Congress aims to harmonize the views and formulate decisions that will be in favor of the interests of the Dayak community, who are also part of Indonesia," he said.

The congress was also attended by representatives from Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Thailand, the Philippines, India, Taiwan, New Zealand, as well as the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).