DPR Member Urges Heightened Vigilance Against Forest and Land Fire Threats

A drier and longer dry season will drastically increase the risk of forest and land fires. Jakarta (ANTARA) - Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives Hindun Anisah has urged the government to immediately enhance early vigilance against the threat of forest and land fires (karhutla) following predictions of the El Niño phenomenon from May to July 2026. “A drier and longer dry season will drastically increase the risk of karhutla. The government must promptly take anticipatory steps so that fires do not spread and no longer cause concerning health impacts on children and the elderly,” Hindun stated in Jakarta on Monday. According to her, this year’s drier and longer dry season demands preventive measures that cannot be delayed. It is known that, based on data from the Pantau Gambut organisation, 23,546 hotspots have been detected in peat areas since the beginning of 2026. That figure, she said, is a danger signal that must be responded to with concrete action before fire escalation spreads. The legislator from Central Java also highlighted that the impacts of karhutla are not only about ecosystem damage and loss of flora-fauna habitats, but also massive socio-economic losses, including potential cross-border haze disruptions. Therefore, she encouraged the government to shift from a firefighting approach to a more comprehensive preventive approach. Thirdly, prepare emergency firefighting facilities, including water bombing operations and weather modification technology, which must be on standby before the peak of the dry season. Finally, according to her, firm action is needed against companies or parties proven to open land by burning. “Prevention efforts must be carried out consistently. The government’s budget focus must be directed towards preventive steps so that karhutla risks can be suppressed from the outset. It is better to prevent than to address the far greater impacts of environmental and health damage,” she said. She then emphasised that cross-sectoral coordination is key to the success of karhutla control this year.