Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut) is processing 31 forest and land fire cases across 10 provinces as part of its efforts to strengthen law enforcement and protect forest resources.
The cases, handled by the Directorate General of Forestry Law Enforcement, involve a combined affected area of 3,625 hectares. Kemenhut said the cases are being handled through a legal process aimed at ensuring accountability for violations that contribute to forest fires.
Of the 31 cases, 22 are currently under investigation, seven have entered the formal investigation stage, and two have been handed over to prosecutors.
The cases are spread across North Sumatra, Jambi, West Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, West Java, Riau, South Sumatra, Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan and East Java.
Central Kalimantan recorded the largest affected area, at 1,110 hectares from six cases involving corporations and individuals. South Kalimantan followed with 843 hectares from three cases involving corporations, while South Sumatra recorded 558 hectares from three cases involving individuals and corporations.
East Java recorded 504 hectares from one case, while East Kalimantan recorded 394 hectares from five cases involving corporations and individuals. Other cases were recorded in North Sumatra with 17 hectares, Jambi with 94 hectares, West Kalimantan with 69 hectares, West Java with six hectares and Riau with 30 hectares.
Kemenhut is also preparing administrative sanctions for holders of Business Licenses for Forest Utilization (PBPH) that fail to carry out forest protection and fire-prevention measures within their operational areas.
The sanctions are based on Government Regulation No. 23 of 2021 on Forestry Administration, including provisions under Articles 282(c), 285(1)(b) and 286. Administrative measures may include the suspension of business licenses, either independently or together with other sanctions such as warnings, fines or license revocation.
Violations that may result in sanctions include failure to protect forests within concession areas, failure to conduct forest fire prevention, failure to take responsibility for fires occurring within operational areas, failure to restore environmental damage and failure to comply with written administrative orders.
Before imposing sanctions, Kemenhut conducts field supervision and inspections. If violations are identified and a PBPH holder is found to have failed to implement forest protection or fire-prevention measures, the Minister of Forestry may impose a business license suspension.
During a suspension period, all forest utilization activities must be temporarily halted. Work plans, production and the distribution of forest products cannot proceed, while the sanctioned party is also prohibited from applying for changes or extensions to its business license.
Kemenhut said sanctions may be escalated to license revocation if the requirements are not fulfilled.
PBPH holders are required to undertake a range of fire-prevention measures, including preparing and implementing environmental management and monitoring plans, conducting patrols and early detection through hotspot monitoring, establishing firefighting teams and providing adequate firefighting equipment and infrastructure.
They are also required to submit periodic reports, cooperate with community fire-awareness groups, respond rapidly to fire incidents in coordination with relevant authorities, and maintain active and continuous responsibility for their concession areas.
A business license suspension can only be lifted after the PBPH holder has implemented forest protection and fire-prevention measures, complied with required corrective actions and reporting obligations, and demonstrated that similar violations have not occurred.
Kemenhut warned that negligence in forest fire prevention can cause environmental damage and state losses while also threatening the continuity of business licenses.
As part of its law enforcement and forest protection measures, Kemenhut has also deployed teams to install special warning signs at former forest fire locations where burned and cleared areas remain visible.
The ministry said the installation of the signs represents a direct measure to strengthen protection of forest areas and reinforce efforts to prevent further damage.
Through case processing, administrative enforcement, field supervision and preventive measures, Kemenhut is continuing to strengthen accountability for forest and land fire management across Indonesia. (*)
