Forestry Minister Orders Weather Modification Operation in Jambi
Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni has stressed that Jambi Province requires a weather modification operation to tackle forest and land fires. The move comes as Jambi currently ranks sixth nationally in the number of hotspots, behind Riau, South Sumatra and several areas in Kalimantan.
“Jambi is unique because it has deep peatland, and this is feared to have the potential for forest and land fires, so a weather modification operation is still needed,” Raja Juli Antoni said, as reported by Antara on Tuesday (25/8).
Based on BMKG data, the peak of the dry season in the region is predicted to continue for some time.
The Ministry of Forestry is committed to fully supporting the weather modification operation scheduled to take place from 27 to 30 August 2026. The minister confirmed that aircraft are ready in Jambi to seed clouds so that rain will fall soon. In addition, the central government is prepared to shift helicopter assistance and distribute masks if the situation worsens.
The minister emphasised that President Prabowo Subianto has ordered all ranks to monitor forest and land fires closely across Indonesia. He asked regional governments not to hesitate to request central assistance and urged the public to stop clearing land by burning.
Regarding law enforcement, the minister confirmed that the Directorate General of Law Enforcement of the Ministry of Forestry and the Ministry of Environment will act firmly without favouritism against both individuals and corporations. “Law enforcement will not be selective in enforcing the law regarding forest and land fire cases in Jambi,” he stressed.
Data from Danrem 042/Gapu Brigadier General TNI Nyamin shows that the area of burned land in Jambi has reached more than 916 hectares. Hotspots are still detected in several areas, including Lubuk Kepayang Village (Sarolangun), Pandan Timur and Geragai (East Tanjung Jabung), and Sungai Gelam (Muaro Jambi).
On the legal side, the Director of Special Criminal Investigation of the Jambi Regional Police, Senior Commissioner Taufik Nurmandia, reported that there are seven forest and land fire cases with eight suspects spread across the Sarolangun, Merangin, Tebo and West Tanjung Jabung police jurisdictions. The police are currently investigating other cases and plan to announce new suspects in the near future.
After coordinating with the Jambi Forest and Land Fire Task Force, Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni immediately inspected the fire location in East Tanjung Jabung Regency by land in order to find a permanent solution to the recurring forest and land fire problem.