Ministry of Forestry Urges Forest Concession Holders to Bolster Fire Prevention Efforts
The Ministry of Forestry is urging companies holding Forest Utilisation Business Permits (PBPH) to strengthen their preparedness against forest and land fires (karhutla), particularly in Jambi Province. The measures include increasing patrols, ensuring personnel readiness, and enhancing coordination with local governments and communities.
Andi Rohaendi, Head of the Sustainable Forest Management Unit (BPHL) Region IV, stated that all PBPH holders must reinforce fire prevention efforts by keeping personnel on standby, improving facilities and infrastructure, and strengthening patrols and coordination with various parties. “Through this Zero Karhutla commitment, we hope all PBPH holders will consistently carry out their responsibilities to prevent forest and land fires in Jambi Province,” Andi said.
The Ministry of Forestry noted that this initiative follows a directive from President Prabowo Subianto, who stressed the importance of protecting forests and the environment as a foundation for national development. Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni has translated this directive by strengthening prevention and preparedness systems for forest and land fires across various regions.
During a coordination meeting, Ibnu Sulistyono, Head of the Sultan Thaha Jambi Class I Meteorological Station, emphasised that PBPH holders need to utilise weather and climate information as a basis for conducting patrols and increasing preparedness. “Early vigilance is a crucial factor in preventing forest and land fires,” Ibnu stated.
Meanwhile, Andre Eko Rinjani, Head of the Emergency and Logistics Division at the Jambi Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), said that handling forest and land fires requires fast, precise, and integrated coordination. He noted that challenges such as peatland conditions, limited water sources, weather factors, and burning practices cannot be addressed by a single agency alone. Andre stressed that collaboration between the government, businesses, and the community is key to strengthening the readiness of personnel, equipment, integrated posts, and responses to potential fires.
During the meeting, PBPH holders were also urged to ensure organisational readiness, communication systems, and integrated patrols, as well as to strengthen coordination with Forest Management Units (KPH) and local governments. Meanwhile, KPH units were asked to optimise field monitoring, early detection, and rapid response to hotspots. As a form of collective commitment, all PBPH holders in Jambi Province signed a Zero Forest and Land Fire Declaration to strengthen prevention, preparedness, and collaboration in protecting forest areas and supporting sustainable forest management.