Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni has pledged to reduce the number of forest and land fires (karhutla) by strengthening preventive measures and improving governance as Indonesia prepares for an earlier and longer dry season.
Speaking during a meeting with officials from the Ministry of Forestry’s Directorate General of Law Enforcement, Raja Antoni said the ministry’s priority is not only to respond to fires but to significantly reduce their occurrence through stronger prevention efforts.
He said the ministry aims to implement concrete measures that will improve forest and land fire management this year and next year, with the long-term aspiration of achieving as close to zero forest and land fires as possible.
To strengthen preparedness, the Ministry of Forestry will evaluate key fire management instruments, including the need for weather modification operations (OMC), groundwater level (TMAT) monitoring in fire-prone areas, and the readiness of personnel and firefighting equipment. The evaluation will be based on operational needs to ensure more effective fire prevention and response.
Raja Antoni also emphasized that improvements should extend beyond operational fire management to include regulatory reform and stronger institutional governance. He said structural changes are needed to create a more sustainable and effective system for preventing and controlling forest and land fires.
According to the minister, strengthening regulations and governance will provide a more consistent framework for officials to improve forest fire management over the long term.
The initiative forms part of the Ministry of Forestry’s broader strategy to enhance Indonesia’s preparedness for the upcoming dry season while reducing the environmental and economic impacts of forest and land fires. (*)
