KLH Relies on Canal Blocking, Not Water Bombing, to Prevent Forest Fires
The Ministry of Environment (KLH) is strengthening efforts to prevent forest and land fires (karhutla) through the construction of canal blocks and peatland water management in Pelalawan, Riau. This measure aims to maintain peat moisture during the dry season while reducing fire risk in vulnerable areas.
Minister of Environment Mohammad Jumhur Hidayat led a review of fire prevention measures in the Sungai Kampar-Sungai Gaung Peat Hydrological Unit, which includes Mendol Island and Pulau Muda Village. According to Jumhur, keeping the peat water table high is key to preventing fires.
“The collective movement to inundate water, as we are doing here, involves building canal blocks, creating a kind of dam by limiting water flow so that water can overflow into surrounding areas. This is part of mitigation efforts to reduce land fire disasters,” Jumhur said during a visit to Mendol Island on Thursday (18/6/2026).
Beyond canal blocking, the ministry is also promoting water management, restoration of buffer zones, and strengthening the role of communities in protecting the peat ecosystem. Pelalawan is a priority area due to its extensive peatlands and high susceptibility to fires during the dry season.
Ministry data shows Indonesia has approximately 13.36 million hectares of peatland, of which around 3.31 million hectares are degraded and require restoration. Strengthening water management is therefore considered a crucial step to prevent the peat from drying out.
The government is also implementing real-time groundwater level monitoring and a water-sharing system to keep peatlands wet. These efforts are reinforced by accelerating the construction of hydrological infrastructure in several fire-prone regions.
Currently, the need for canal blocks across seven fire-prone provinces remains substantial. Out of a requirement for approximately 538,568 canal block units, only about 45,430 are available to secure 269,284 kilometres of canals.
KLH is also expanding the Desa Mandiri Peduli Gambut (Independent Peat Care Village) programme based on the 3R principles: rewetting, revegetation, and revitalisation of the local economy. The programme is expected to strengthen peatland resilience while improving the welfare of surrounding communities.
Support for fire prevention also comes from the private sector. APP Group Director Suhendra Wiriadinata stated that preventing fires requires collaboration from various parties, including the government, law enforcement, businesses, and the community.
“Strong collaboration is needed between the central government, regional governments, law enforcement, the business world, and the community,” Suhendra said. He noted that corporate support includes building canal blocks, providing fire prevention facilities and infrastructure, and strengthening the capacity of communities around peatland areas.
Meanwhile, Marlizar, a representative of the Teluk Meranti Fire-Conscious Community (MPA), said residents routinely conduct patrols to detect potential fires early. “We patrol every day with the community. We hope that with the minister’s visit, more canal blocks will be built because they are very important for preventing fires,” Marlizar said.
Minister Jumhur stressed that protecting peatlands cannot be done by the government alone. The success of fire prevention depends heavily on collaboration among all stakeholders and increased public awareness in safeguarding the peat ecosystem.