Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Reactivates Forest and Land Fire Mitigation Desk

As an anticipatory measure, the government has reactivated the Forest and Land Fire (Karhutla) Coordination Desk for 2026. Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Djamari Chaniago announced the move to strengthen inter-agency coordination in facing potential fires caused by the El Niño phenomenon in 2026 and 2027. Djamari stated that this step is a government anticipatory effort ahead of the dry season, which could heighten the risk of forest and land fires. The decision was conveyed during a Special Coordination Meeting on Karhutla Control for 2026, themed ‘Synergising for the Nation to Face El Niño 2026 and 2027’, held at the Manggala Wanabakti Building in Jakarta on Thursday. The government has also mapped six provinces with potential for increased karhutla risk: Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan. Djamari stressed the importance of synergy between the central government, regional governments, and all stakeholders in prevention and handling efforts. He noted that reactivating the desk is necessary to ensure more effective inter-agency coordination and to prevent overlapping duties in the field. Agencies previously involved in the Desk include the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the National Police, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the Ministry of Forestry, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and regional governments. He underscored the need to optimise alert posts, integrated patrols, strengthen early detection systems, ensure personnel and equipment readiness, and involve businesses and the community in karhutla prevention. Djamari expressed hope that reactivating the Karhutla Desk would strengthen national coordination, enabling faster and more effective handling of forest and land fires. Previously, BNPB announced that the Karhutla Desk and Task Force were disbanded after the 2025 karhutla conditions were deemed under control. Prior karhutla handling referred to Presidential Instruction Number 3 of 2020 and Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs Decree Number 29 of 2025. Under these regulations, BNPB served as the implementing authority for the Karhutla Desk, including ground operations, air operations via patrols and water bombing, and weather modification. Although the Desk and Task Force were temporarily disbanded, BNPB assured that preparedness and anticipatory efforts for forest and land fires continue according to existing mechanisms.