President Prabowo Instructs Forest Fire Education Down to Grassroots Level
President Prabowo Subianto has instructed government ranks to strengthen public education to prevent the emergence of fire hotspots amid extreme weather conditions affecting several regions in Kalimantan.
State Secretary Minister (Mensesneg) Prasetyo Hadi revealed that the President emphasised the importance of continuous socialisation down to the lowest level of society. This aims to ensure that activities with the potential to trigger forest and land fires (karhutla) can be completely avoided.
“He gave emphasis to all of us to continuously, tirelessly, provide education to our people down to the lowest level,” Prasetyo said in an official statement in Palangka Raya on Saturday (22/8).
Prasetyo explained that education is crucial because the current very dry weather conditions make fire spread and grow very easily. The government is trying to prevent people from carrying out activities that risk triggering fires in fire-prone environments.
“Avoiding activities that could cause the potential emergence of fire, which in conditions like now would be very dangerous because it could grow and harm us all,” he added.
President Prabowo is reported to be directly monitoring the handling of forest and land fires by visiting West Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan. In two coordination meetings held, the President received in-depth reports on the situation’s development and urgent needs on the ground.
In addition to preventive measures through education, the government is also preparing concrete solutions so that people no longer clear land by burning. One strategic step being taken is the provision of heavy equipment support.
Prasetyo mentioned that although there are regional regulations governing certain land clearing practices, this does not mean land burning is permitted. Therefore, the government is discussing adjustments to regulations so that land clearing is carried out without fire, with equipment support from the state.
“If the problem is that our people need to clear land, then the government will be present in another form by providing assistance, for example the excavators needed,” explained the State Secretary Minister.
The President has decided to strengthen and increase the number of heavy equipment units to facilitate the community in managing land safely and in an environmentally friendly manner.