Enviro News Asia, Jakarta – East Kalimantan Province is one of the regions prone to forest and land fires. To anticipate potential disasters, a Preparedness Assembly and Forest and Land Fire Control Jamboree was held in East Kalimantan.
The three-day event, from August 6 to 8, 2025, was centered at the Special Purpose Forest Area (KHDTK) of the Forestry and Tropical Environment Training Center, Mulawarman University, Samarinda.
This event served as a key moment to enhance preparedness and awareness among all parties regarding the threat of forest and land fires, especially during the dry season.
Forest and land fires are now considered part of a dual planetary crisis with widespread impacts on the environment, public health, and even international relations.
According to weather forecasts from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), this year’s dry season is classified as a wet dry season, despite a temperature increase in Indonesia of around 0.3 to 0.6 degrees Celsius.
Rainfall from August to September 2025 is predicted to be in the low to medium category, including in East Kalimantan.
From January 1 to August 5, 2025, a total of 66 hotspots were detected in East Kalimantan, with 63 fire suppression operations carried out.
Satellite imagery up to May 2025 recorded that the area affected by forest and land fires in the province had reached 331.96 hectares.
East Kalimantan is considered both a fire-prone area and a location of national strategic development, including the new capital city, Nusantara (IKN).
Therefore, the province is expected to serve as an example of how development and environmental conservation can go hand in hand.
Representing the Minister of Forestry, Deputy Minister of Forestry Sulaiman Umar, in his speech, emphasized the importance of synergy and collaboration in forest and land fire control.
“The key to successful forest and land fire control lies in the synergy between the central and regional governments, the private sector, and the community,” he said.
He also stated that prevention must be the top priority. “Prevention is cheaper, more effective, and helps preserve nature. Therefore, technologies such as satellite imagery and drone patrols must be fully utilized,” he added.
In a Limited Cabinet Meeting on August 2, President Prabowo also reportedly called on all government levels to remain alert and ready to face the dry season, which could trigger forest and land fires in various regions.
Carrying the theme “United for a Smoke-Free East Kalimantan,” the event was designed as an educational and cross-sectoral consolidation platform to strengthen forest and land fire prevention efforts. The jamboree also served to reinforce multi-stakeholder collaboration and enhance community capacity. (*)
