Environment Minister Urges Regions to Activate Fire-Concerned Communities to Minimise Forest and Land Fire Cases

Regional heads are requested to resume operations of the Community Fire Care (MPA) groups that have been established across all areas.

Jambi City (ANTARA) - Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq has urged regions to reactivate the Community Fire Care (MPA) to minimise forest and land fire (Karhutla) cases amid the threat of the dry season accompanied by the El Niño phenomenon in 2026.

“Regional heads are requested to resume operating the Community Fire Care groups that have been formed across all regions,” said Faisol in Jambi on Saturday.

In addition, he reminded governors, regents, and mayors to immediately report the latest emergency conditions regarding Karhutla to facilitate operational support from the central government in anticipating Karhutla.

“Do not worry that declaring such status reduces the credibility of regents and mayors; on the contrary, it will shorten bureaucratic pathways for joint handling,” he added.

Furthermore, he asked governors to immediately consolidate with concession-holding companies for Forest Utilisation Rights (HPH), Industrial Plantation Forests (HTI), and plantations to discuss anticipatory measures against land fire threats, in accordance with Presidential Instruction (Inpres) No. 3 of 2020.

Although the El Niño is weak, due to a slightly prolonged dry season, the conditions will differ from 2025.

He continued that, based on data from last week, the area of forest fires across Indonesia has reached 32,600 hectares (Ha), a very high figure, nearly 20 times that of the same month in 2025 (1,500 Ha).

According to records, the burnt land area is largely contributed by Riau Province and West Kalimantan (Kalbar). Therefore, all parties should consolidate and prepare all necessary steps.

As a reference for regions, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) updates the integrated groundwater level information system (TMAT) for peatlands in the country every week (Monday). This is to facilitate regional monitoring.

“Coordination steps by operating the Karhutla Task Force readiness should commence immediately; alert roll-calls have been conducted by the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs and will continue on a rotating basis from one province to another,” the Environment Minister concluded.