Environment Ministry announces subregional mitigation measures for forest fires

The Ministry of Environment (KLH) has said that mitigation measures will be taken at the subregional level in response to forest and land fires in several areas.

“The next step tomorrow will be mitigation action. Previously it did not reach mitigation action; mitigation cooperation was not yet in place. So it was only mutual reporting. Indonesia did this, Malaysia did that,” said Minister of Environment Jumhur Hidayat in Jakarta on Wednesday.

In a doorstep interview, he mentioned that Indonesia is part of the Transboundary Haze Pollution Agreement, together with countries such as Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. The agreement concerns the prevention, monitoring and mitigation of haze from forest and land fires in Southeast Asia.

He also said that it is acceptable for neighbouring countries, such as Malaysia, to offer to extinguish fires in Kalimantan.

“There are many companies, many Malaysian companies, Singaporean companies, companies from everywhere that hold oil palm plantations and industrial timber plantations in Indonesia,” he said.

Previously, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Indonesia continues to coordinate with neighbouring countries and utilise existing ASEAN mechanisms to address the impact of forest and land fires in the Southeast Asian region.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is coordinating with various ministries and also other countries, including utilising monitoring and information exchange mechanisms under the ASEAN framework,” said Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Vahd Nabyl A. Mulachela in a media briefing in Jakarta on Thursday (13/8).

He said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies in the context of integrated prevention and handling of forest and land fires, while minimising their impact on communities and the environment in neighbouring countries.

Malaysia has appreciated Indonesia’s swift action in tackling forest and land fires, while expressing readiness to assist Indonesia if needed.

“Malaysia appreciates and supports the swift action of the Indonesian government under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto in intensifying efforts to extinguish forest and land fires,” said Malaysian Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Arthur Joseph Kurup, as quoted from BERNAMA in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday (25/8).