335 Forest Concessions in Sumatra and Kalimantan Burned, Covering 85,000 Hectares

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Presidential Chief of Staff Dudung Abdurachman has disclosed the latest data on forest concession land ownership by companies in relation to the forest and land fire (Karhutla) disaster. It turns out that 335 concessions owned by companies have fire hotspots or have burned in the Sumatra and Kalimantan regions. The total area of land burned in the two concession regions has reached nearly 85,000 hectares.

“Meanwhile, the Ministry of Environment has recorded around 335 companies holding concessions in Sumatra and Kalimantan whose areas are indicated to have fire hotspots and have experienced fires, with a burned land area of nearly 85,000 hectares,” said Dudung, citing an official release on Monday (24/8/2026).

In addition, the government is also conducting investigations into a number of corporations in West Kalimantan suspected of being linked to the forest and land fires. Nevertheless, the government will wait for the examination process to be completed and will take firm action if any company is found to have violated regulations.

“We must not judge before the examination process is complete, but if it is later proven that there was an element of intent or violation, the law must be enforced firmly,” he said.

Dudung said the government will continue to monitor the progress of forest and land fire handling and encourage coordination between central and regional governments, together with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the Indonesian National Police (Polri), and all relevant parties.

He also emphasised that the state will continue to be present to protect the public from the impacts of forest and land fires, and will strive to ensure that similar incidents do not recur. According to him, the government is paying serious attention to the handling of forest and land fires in a number of regions. This is because these incidents not only damage the environment, but also impact public health and safety.

“Smoke haze impacts children and the elderly in particular, as well as all levels of society in general,” said Dudung.