Collaborative Action is the Key to Success in Preventing Forest and Land Fires

By: Aurelia Sutramita)*

Preventing forest and land fires (karhutla) is not the responsibility of one party alone. Collaboration involving all elements, including the central government, regional governments, the business world, and the community is the main key in overcoming the threat of this ecological disaster, especially in vulnerable areas such as Sumatra and Kalimantan.

The Minister of Environment (LH)/Head of the Environmental Control Agency (BPLH), Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, said that the government has taken firm steps by requiring 400 plantation companies in the southern part of Sumatra to prepare for the dry season. Of that number, 277 companies are in South Sumatra Province, which is known to have a high level of vulnerability to forest and land fires.

These steps include the readiness of personnel, equipment, and adequate funding to prevent and handle forest and land fires effectively. Hanif Faisol Nurofiq emphasized that if within two weeks the company does not show a readiness report, then administrative sanctions in the form of government coercion will be imposed in accordance with Law Number 32 of 2009.

This step is a form of the state’s seriousness in facing the threat of haze which not only harms the environment, but also disrupts Indonesia’s credibility in its global commitment to reducing emissions. Indonesia, according to KLHK data, is ranked second as a contributor to global haze, most of which comes from land fires.

This firm policy is not a form of intimidation, but rather a serious warning that environmental management cannot be ignored. In fact, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq did not rule out the possibility of imposing criminal sanctions on business actors who neglect to carry out their obligations in preventing forest and land fires.

The Ministry of Environment has also sent official letters to concession permit holders to report in detail their readiness. Field evaluations will also be carried out comprehensively, involving provincial and district governments, to ensure that mitigation steps are carried out concretely.

In the national context, Riau Province is of particular concern. Hanif Faisol Nurofiq said that Riau is the main indicator of the success of forest and land fire control in Indonesia. The success of handling in this province will be a benchmark for other regions facing similar challenges.

Riau was recorded as the region with the largest burned land from January to April 2025, reaching 600 hectares. This shows how critical the situation is in the area and the importance of quick and coordinated action from all parties.

With a total land area of ​​around 8 million hectares, and half of it is oil palm plantations that are prone to burning, Riau Province requires extra attention in preventing forest and land fires. Therefore, community empowerment is an important element in the control strategy.

Hanif Faisol Nurofiq firmly called for optimizing the role of the Fire Aware Community (MPA) as the front guard. Their existence is very important in early detection, monitoring, and reporting potential fires directly in the field.

In addition to community empowerment, synergy between agencies is a strong foundation in this collaborative effort. Local governments, law enforcement officers, and business actors must be connected and work within a common framework to prevent forest and land fires systematically.

Firm steps are also needed in monitoring concession areas. The local government continues to take a repressive approach if violations are found that cause forest and land fires. This is important so that land managers are responsible for the permits granted by the state.

In Kalimantan Province, collaborative action is also being strengthened. The Head of the West Kalimantan BPBD Disaster Information Task Force, Daniel, said that his party has prepared equipment and personnel to deal with potential fires. This readiness includes pumps, hoses, nozzles, firefighting vehicles, and water tanks.

According to Daniel, preventing forest and land fires is a shared responsibility. Collaboration between the government, TNI, Polri, the business world, volunteers and local communities is needed so that prevention strategies run effectively in the field.

The West Kalimantan BPBD also continues to strengthen coordination with stakeholders to increase awareness. They use data from BMKG as a basis for reading the pattern of the upcoming dry season, as well as determining times when fires are prone to occur.

The unstable weather conditions ahead of the dry season in early June require tighter supervision. Daniel stated that his party continues to monitor whether this year will be classified as a wet or dry season, and that will be an important factor in determining future mitigation strategies.