Government Temporarily Bans Land Clearing by Local Wisdom Method

The government has suspended permits for forest and land burning by local residents, commonly referred to as local wisdom.

“We recognise what is termed local wisdom, whereby local residents may carry out burning for local purposes across an area of up to 2 hectares. That too has been coordinated and we have halted it,” said Djamari after a meeting at the Marine Corps Headquarters in Jakarta on Monday (7/9).

Djamari said the suspension applies across all regional governments.

National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo conveyed the same message. He said that amid the prolonged dry season and extreme El Nino, forest burning under local wisdom arrangements is no longer applied or has been abolished.

“Then there is also an instruction from the President that because we are currently entering an extreme El Nino prolonged dry season, the application of forest burning under local wisdom is no longer enforced, or has been abolished,” Listyo said.

Listyo also stated that any individuals who still violate the ban may face sanctions ranging from criminal and civil penalties to administrative sanctions.

He added that his officers, together with TNI soldiers, are going directly into the field to educate the public regarding land clearing regulations.

“The local rules themselves also come with requirements, among others: it must be reported to the village head, there must be firebreaks, the results must be reported and monitored, and so on,” he said.