KLH Issues Urgent Forest and Land Fire Instruction to Six Governors
The Ministry of Environment (KLH) has issued an urgent instruction to six governors in Sumatra and Kalimantan to tighten the handling of forest and land fires (karhutla) and respond to declining air quality.
In a statement titled “Responding to Declining Air Quality and the Threat of Forest and Land Fires in the 2026 Dry Season” received in Jakarta on Friday (21/8), Minister of Environment Jumhur Hidayat focused on protecting public safety in Riau, South Sumatra, Central Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, Jambi, and South Kalimantan in the urgent instruction.
The strong El Niño phenomenon affecting Indonesia since July 2026 is considered the main trigger for the surge in forest and land fire vulnerability, leading to a significant decline in air quality in several of these regions.
KLH reported that the latest monitoring data recorded PM2.5 concentrations in Kampar (Riau) at 48.84 micrograms per cubic metre, Ogan Ilir (South Sumatra) at 47.39 micrograms per cubic metre, Katingan (Central Kalimantan) at 30.16 micrograms per cubic metre, Jambi City at 26.18 micrograms per cubic metre, Pontianak (West Kalimantan) at 26.41 micrograms per cubic metre, and Banjarmasin (South Kalimantan) at 17.40 micrograms per cubic metre.
Most of these areas have been recorded as exceeding the Ambient Air Quality Standard or falling into the unhealthy category for the public.
The urgent forest and land fire instruction to the governors of the six priority provinces was issued by Minister of Environment Jumhur in line with Circular Letter Number 16 of 2026 concerning the Prohibition of Land Clearing by Burning.
The instruction requires local governments to carry out massive prevention actions, intensify integrated joint patrols, strictly monitor peatland groundwater levels, wet vulnerable land, and monitor canal barriers.
In addition, KLH has asked the regions to activate forest and land fire control posts, maximise the readiness of personnel and firefighting infrastructure, and periodically evaluate data from Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations.
Furthermore, residents in affected areas are urged to reduce outdoor activities, wear masks, maintain home air circulation, and immediately seek medical attention at health facilities if they experience respiratory problems.
KLH is also committed to implementing strict supervision and imposing firm legal sanctions, including administrative sanctions, fines, and criminal penalties, on parties who violate the land-burning ban.