Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — The Ministry of Forestry has implemented a nationwide proactive mitigation strategy to counter the escalating risk of forest and land fires driven by 2026 climate dynamics and the potential threat of El Niño. Initiated on March 11, 2026, and set to remain active through December 31, 2026, this heightened state of readiness aims to protect vital forest ecosystems and biodiversity while safeguarding public health, safety, and daily socio-economic activities across Indonesia, particularly within six high-priority provinces.
This operational commitment was formalized through Minister of Forestry Decree Number 251 of 2026, which established the Forest Fire Control Supervision Taskforce. Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni emphasized that the government chose not to wait for fires to spread before acting, opting instead to build nationwide preparedness based on climate intelligence and early risk forecasting.
Under this legal framework, intervention is executed holistically across three integrated operational pillars. The Regional Assistance Team coordinates ground efforts across 12 designated provincial clusters in direct synergy with local governors, regents, and regional task forces. Simultaneously, the Command Center Team manages real-time multi-satellite detection through the SiPongi monitoring system to issue prompt alerts, while the Clarification Team investigates burned concession areas to establish corporate liability and enforce administrative sanctions.
To reinforce frontline forces, the Ministry executed a major operational surge, deploying 5,000 civil servants under Operational Control Assistance (BKO) to bolster Manggala Agni firefighters alongside the Military, National Police, regional disaster agencies, and community volunteers. Over 2,200 personnel have been stationed across Kalimantan, including 700 additional responders in West Kalimantan, while Riau, Jambi, and South Sumatra have each been assigned around 500 personnel to conduct ground patrols, firebreak construction, and peatland rewetting.
Ground operations are further reinforced by aerial assets, including patrol helicopters, precision water-bombing, and cloud-seeding weather modification. Concurrently, legal enforcement runs parallel with field suppression. The Ministry has already penalised six forest utilization permit holders, issuing Government Compulsion Orders to five entities and temporarily suspending the operational license of one enterprise responsible for extensive and recurrent burning.
Minister Antoni reiterated that while prevention remains the primary focus, strict legal measures will be enforced against any party guilty of negligence or deliberate burning. Emphasizing that forest fire control demands a unified response across government agencies, private sectors, and local communities, he concluded that the ultimate goal remains clear: suppress the flames rapidly, safeguard the forests, and ensure citizens remain free from the impacts of haze. (*)
