Forestry Ministry sanctions six companies over recurring forest fires in Kalimantan
The Ministry of Forestry has imposed sanctions on six companies holding Forest Utilisation Business Permits (PBPH) following monitoring that found fires in their managed areas totalling 1,511.55 hectares in Kalimantan.
Director of Forestry Supervision, Administrative Sanctions and Civil Affairs at the Ministry of Forestry, Ardi Risman, said the administrative sanctions were given to four companies in West Kalimantan, namely PT WEL, PT FI, PT MPK and PT WSP. Sanctions were also imposed on PT NES in Central Kalimantan and PT PSR in East Kalimantan.
The sanctions were imposed because forest and land fires occurred repeatedly within the companies’ working areas. Through these sanctions, the companies are obliged to improve their fire control efforts and restore the affected areas.
“Government coercion gives companies the consequence of fulfilling the obligations that have been set, from improving the fire control system to restoring affected areas within a specified time limit. For PT MPK, we are imposing a Business Permit Freeze as well as Government Coercion because the fires occurred extensively and repeatedly. The implementation of all these obligations will be monitored and evaluated,” Ardi said.
Based on monitoring results, the largest burned area was recorded at approximately 760.51 hectares by PT WEL. This was followed by burned areas of 394.83 hectares by PT MPK, 107.7 hectares by PT WSP, 95.87 hectares by PT FI, 82.26 hectares by PT PSR, and 70.38 hectares by PT NES. The total burned area across the six companies reached 1,511.55 hectares.
The imposition of sanctions is a follow-up to supervision of companies’ obligations to prevent and control forest and land fires in their working areas. In affected areas, companies may also be ordered to carry out vegetation restoration.
Director General of Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Forestry, Dwi Januanto Nugroho, said business permits carry the responsibility to protect the area and prevent damage. Administrative sanctions are used to correct non-compliance while forcing improvements and restoration. However, handling can go further if alleged criminal acts are found.
“We use administrative sanctions to force improvement, restoration and compliance; but when criminal elements are found, the criminal process continues. This is also a warning to anyone who deliberately burns forests or profits from fires and damage to the area. We will investigate and process based on evidence,” Dwi Januanto Nugroho said.