Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry is strengthening preparedness and response measures to control forest and land fires (karhutla) amid a strong El Niño event in 2026, which has increased the risk of fires across several regions.
Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni outlined the government’s preparedness measures during a working meeting with Commission IV of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) in Jakarta on August 18. He said the current El Niño conditions had emerged earlier than initially expected and had reached a very strong intensity.
According to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG), the Nino3.4 sea surface temperature anomaly index had reached +2.19, while the agency projected that the 2026 El Niño could reach a very strong intensity. The minister noted that the current conditions showed similarities to the 2015 El Niño, which was associated with one of Indonesia’s most severe forest and land fire seasons.
The government is particularly concerned about the increase in burned areas during the first seven months of 2026. Ministry data showed that approximately 202,000 hectares were affected by forest and land fires between January and July. Around 57 percent of the burned area was located within forest areas, while the remaining 43 percent occurred outside forest areas, or in areas classified as APL.
West Kalimantan, South Papua, East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, and Riau were among the provinces recording the largest burned areas during the period.
Although the 2026 burned area has increased compared with non-El Niño years, the government said the situation remains significantly below the scale recorded during the 2015 El Niño. However, the burned area between January and July 2026 was higher than during the same periods in 2019 and 2023.
The Forestry Ministry has expanded early detection and prevention measures by monitoring hotspots as an initial indicator of potential fires. The government has also issued guidance to regional administrations, strengthened national coordination, conducted preparedness activities, activated emergency fire response posts, intensified firefighting operations, and increased the capacity of Manggala Agni personnel.
A Fire Control Supervision Task Force and a dedicated forest fire monitoring and coordination center, known as the War Room Karhutla, have also been established. The ministry is revitalizing firefighting infrastructure and conducting ground operations in six priority provinces: North Sumatra, Riau, South Sumatra, Jambi, West Kalimantan, and Central Kalimantan.
The response involves coordination among the Indonesian Military, National Police, Manggala Agni, community fire groups, local governments, BMKG, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), and other relevant institutions. Weather modification operations are also being strengthened to support firefighting and increase the potential for rainfall in fire-prone areas.
Commission IV of the DPR RI has welcomed the government’s preparedness efforts while urging authorities to strengthen coordination and improve the effectiveness of forest and land fire management. Deputy Chairman of Commission IV Alex Indra Lukman warned that the 2026 situation was concerning, citing a reported 366 percent increase in the burned area compared with the same period last year.
The commission called for faster preventive action and stressed that government measures should move ahead of the increase in fire hotspots. Prevention, early detection, rapid response, and stronger coordination were identified as key priorities.
The Forestry Ministry has also assured that funding for forest and land fire control will be strengthened through various financing sources. The government said it would continue to improve prevention, early detection, rapid response, firefighting capacity, and law enforcement against parties responsible for causing forest and land fires.
Minister Raja Juli Antoni emphasized that controlling forest and land fires is a shared responsibility. The government is therefore urging all stakeholders to strengthen preparedness and cooperation as Indonesia faces increasingly challenging climate conditions in 2026. (*)
