Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — The Indonesian government, through the Ministry of Environment and Environmental Control Agency, has established a 2026 Land Fire Control Task Force to strengthen early response measures against the growing threat of forest and land fires.
Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq emphasized that fire management efforts must prioritize structured and integrated prevention strategies, particularly amid projections of a prolonged dry season and the potential occurrence of El Niño this year.
“We must act quickly, systematically, and without compromise, as this concerns public safety, environmental protection, and the nation’s future,” he stated during the National Preparedness Roll Call for Fire Control 2026.
Data indicates a significant increase in fire incidents in early 2026, with 3,609 hotspots recorded—three times higher than the same period last year. Burned areas have also surged, exceeding 32,000 hectares by February 2026, with Sumatra and Kalimantan identified as the most affected regions.
In response, the task force has been structured into advisory, secretariat, and verification teams, tasked with strengthening coordination between central and regional governments and ensuring rapid and effective prevention and mitigation efforts at the field level.
One of the task force’s primary roles is to enhance early fire response by activating control posts in high-risk areas down to the village level. The initiative also focuses on improving readiness in human resources, infrastructure, and logistical support, with strong involvement from local governments and private sector actors.
The government is also intensifying efforts to improve fire control infrastructure, particularly in peatland areas, through water management systems, canal blocking, and the provision of water sources such as drilled wells and reservoirs.
The Meteorology Climatology and Geophysics Agency has projected a drier and longer dry season in 2026, with indications of weak to moderate El Niño conditions, which could heighten fire risks, especially in vulnerable regions such as Riau and West Kalimantan.
Minister Hanif stressed that forest fire management requires full cross-sector collaboration involving government institutions, security forces, businesses, and local communities to effectively reduce risks.
Through the establishment of the 2026 Land Fire Control Task Force, the government aims to implement more systematic prevention measures and ensure faster response to fire incidents, minimizing environmental damage, public health risks, and economic losses. (*)
