Enviro News Asia, Palangka Raya — The Indonesian Forestry Entrepreneurs Association (APHI) has pledged its support for strengthening forest and land fire management in Central Kalimantan through the deployment of firefighting teams, provision of water sources and enhanced preparedness among its members. The initiative forms part of a broader multi-stakeholder effort to protect areas that support national food security.
The Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs has undertaken synchronization and coordination efforts to strengthen forest and land fire control in Central Kalimantan, one of the regions targeted for national food self-sufficiency. The measures are part of the implementation of Presidential Instruction No. 11 of 2026 on Strengthening Enforcement of the Prohibition on Land Clearing Through Burning and Forest and Land Fire Control.
Deputy Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Hanif Faisol Nurofiq said addressing forest and land fires in Central Kalimantan was essential to protecting areas that support national food security and preventing additional pressure on food production. He made the remarks while leading a joint assembly of fire response teams in Palangka Raya on Friday, October 30.
Hanif said fire management around airport areas was among the priorities in Palangka Raya.
“We are optimizing forest and land fire management in Ring One, particularly areas bordering the airport, through a zoning-based or landscape-based approach. This model is expected to be expanded to other areas across Central Kalimantan,” he said.
He explained that fire response operations involved various stakeholders, including the provincial and municipal governments, the Indonesian Military (TNI), the National Police (Polri), Manggala Agni firefighting teams, volunteer and community-based firefighting groups, as well as business associations such as APHI and the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI).
“In Palangka Raya, 175 firefighting teams are involved, with effective coordination by the provincial government and support from various stakeholders, including businesses represented by APHI and GAPKI,” he said.
Hanif added that firefighting teams had been assigned to several zones based on the locations of available water sources, including drilled wells. This arrangement is expected to improve firefighting efficiency and ensure that response efforts cover all affected areas.
He also warned that although rainfall had begun in Palangka Raya, weather conditions remained a challenge for fire management. According to Hanif, analysis by the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) indicated that normal rainfall patterns were not expected to return until late November.
“Therefore, we must continue strengthening firefighting teams in the field and mobilize all available resources to complete these fire management efforts,” he said.
On the same occasion, APHI Secretary-General Purwadi Soeprihanto reaffirmed the association’s commitment and that of its members to supporting forest and land fire management in Central Kalimantan.
“We are committed to supporting forest and land fire management through a collaborative approach involving various stakeholders across Central Kalimantan,” Purwadi said.
He added that the zoning and landscape-based fire management model being implemented around the airport in Palangka Raya could also be adopted in other parts of the province.
“This landscape-based model could serve as a systematic and measurable approach to forest and land fire management in Central Kalimantan over the long term,” he said.
Meanwhile, Achwan, Chair of APHI’s Central Kalimantan Regional Commission, said the association had worked with GAPKI Central Kalimantan to prepare support in the form of firefighting teams and the construction of drilled wells as water sources.
“APHI and GAPKI have prepared firefighting teams and several drilled-well locations to support fire suppression efforts around the airport,” Achwan said.
He added that all APHI members in Central Kalimantan were continuing to strengthen their preparedness to anticipate fires in their respective operational areas.
“All APHI members across Central Kalimantan are currently maintaining the readiness of their firefighting teams, responding immediately whenever fires occur and intensifying patrols in their respective areas,” he said.
With this support, forest and land fire management in Central Kalimantan is expected to become better coordinated and reach all affected areas. Cross-sector collaboration through zoning and landscape-based approaches is also expected to provide a foundation for strengthening long-term fire prevention and response efforts. (*)
