Enviro News Asia, Samarinda — The Ministry of Environment and Environmental Control Agency (KLH/BPLH) is seeking to unify forest and land fire data from government agencies to improve monitoring, field verification and response efforts in East Kalimantan.
Vice Minister of Environment and Vice Head of BPLH Diaz Hendropriyono called for greater data synchronization during a field review of forest and land fires in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, on September 14, 2026.
Diaz said several agencies were using different fire datasets, including information from the Indonesian Military’s Regional Command, the Regional Police, SiPongi and the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD).
“We found differences among the datasets used by the agencies. The data came from three satellites: NOAA-20, Terra/Aqua and SNPP,” Diaz said.
He explained that agencies sometimes relied on different satellite sources, creating discrepancies in the reported fire locations. KLH/BPLH is therefore discussing ways to establish greater consistency among the datasets before conducting further field verification.
Diaz said ASEAN’s approach to monitoring land fires could provide a reference for Indonesia. He noted that ASEAN uses NOAA-20 for monitoring smoke from forest and land fires and said Indonesia could draw lessons from this approach to improve data consistency.
“Once the data are synchronized, we will conduct further field verification and follow up on the findings,” Diaz said.
During the visit, Diaz inspected the East Kalimantan BPBD office to assess preparedness and review prevention and response measures, including the use of fire data to support operational decisions.
KLH/BPLH also reiterated its commitment to pursuing potential violations linked to forest and land fires. The agency has previously sealed approximately 50 companies in eight provinces after identifying fire hotspots within company concession areas.
“We are monitoring these companies, and around 50 have now been sealed. If there are indications of company involvement in the fires, sanctions will be imposed,” Diaz said.
Diaz also held a coordination meeting with Commission II of the Regional Representative Council (DPD RI) at the East Kalimantan Governor’s Office. The meeting involved representatives from the Ministry of Forestry, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the East Kalimantan provincial government and other stakeholders.
The coordination also addressed the construction of bore wells in areas where access to water remains difficult. Several private companies agreed to support the construction of bore wells as part of efforts to improve water availability for firefighting.
Diaz said collaboration with the private sector would be important in supporting fire suppression, particularly in locations where water sources are limited.
The field review and coordination meeting formed part of the implementation of Presidential Instruction No. 11 of 2026 and Minister of Environment Circular No. 16 of 2026, both of which seek to strengthen forest and land fire prevention and response.
Diaz said existing regulations prohibit land clearing through burning in peatland areas, while the ministerial circular requires regional governments to suspend regulations that still permit land clearing through fire.
KLH/BPLH said stronger data coordination, field verification, enforcement and cooperation among government agencies and private-sector stakeholders would support more consistent forest and land fire management in East Kalimantan. (*)
