Enviro News Asia, Banjarbaru — PT Hutan Rindang Banua (HRB) has strengthened the role of the Association of Indonesian Forest Concessionaires (APHI) in supporting government efforts to prevent and respond to forest and land fires (karhutla) in South Kalimantan.
As part of the forestry business sector, PT HRB has expressed its readiness to contribute to fire prevention and response by providing supporting infrastructure, including the construction of bore wells in fire-prone areas where access to water sources is limited.
The commitment was conveyed by PT HRB management representative Nurhadi Purwanto during a visit by Environment Minister and Head of the Environmental Control Agency (BPLH) Moh Jumhur Hidayat as part of efforts to accelerate forest and land fire control in South Kalimantan.
Nurhadi said limited water availability remains one of the challenges in fighting fires, particularly in areas far from settlements and difficult to reach by water tankers.
“PT HRB is ready to support forest and land fire response efforts by constructing bore wells in fire-prone locations where water resources are limited,” Nurhadi said.
The planned bore wells will be developed in coordination with local governments, regional disaster management agencies, relevant authorities, village governments and local communities. Field surveys will be conducted to determine locations where the facilities are most needed.
According to Nurhadi, the initiative represents part of the private sector’s responsibility to protect the environment and communities from the impacts of forest and land fires.
Karhutla can cause environmental damage as well as disrupt public health, education, transportation and economic activities. Therefore, prevention and early response need to be prioritized before fires spread across wider areas.
“Forest and land fire management requires joint efforts. The government, businesses, authorities and communities need to maintain the same level of preparedness so that fires can be addressed immediately before they spread,” he said.
APHI considers companies holding forest utilization permits to have a strategic role in supporting government efforts to control forest and land fires. Their contributions can include protecting concession areas, providing firefighting facilities and infrastructure, strengthening fire management personnel, and empowering communities living around forest areas.
In addition to bore wells, preventive measures include integrated patrols, hotspot monitoring, the construction and maintenance of water reservoirs, provision of firefighting equipment, and stronger communication and reporting systems from the field.
Community involvement is also considered essential. Residents living near forest areas can play an important role in providing early information when smoke or fire is detected.
Companies are therefore encouraged to strengthen partnerships with local communities through public awareness programs, capacity building and the establishment of community groups focused on fire prevention.
During his visit to South Kalimantan, Environment Minister and BPLH Head Moh Jumhur Hidayat emphasized the importance of private-sector participation in forest and land fire control.
The government, he said, cannot address the threat of fires across extensive areas on its own. Businesses are expected not only to protect their concession areas but also to support communities and government agencies in responding to fires in surrounding areas, according to their capacity and in coordination with the relevant authorities.
PT HRB welcomed the government’s direction and reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening coordination with the government, APHI, relevant authorities and local communities in preventing and responding to forest and land fires.
The planned construction of bore wells is expected to strengthen field preparedness, particularly in areas that experience limited water availability during the dry season.
The collaboration between the government, private sector and communities is expected to accelerate and improve the coordination of forest and land fire prevention in South Kalimantan, while helping protect forests, maintain environmental quality and reduce the risk of recurring haze disasters. (*)
