Riau Police Deploy Drones to Monitor Hotspots Ahead of Forest and Land Fires

To face the dry season, the Karhutla Task Force of the Riau Police is taking mitigation measures in the prevention and handling of forest and land fires (karhutla) in the Bumi Lancang Kuning. Drones were deployed as the initial step to monitor hotspot points.

One drone owned by the Riau Police was showcased on Thursday 5 March 2026 at the Karhutla Preparedness Parade 2026 at Lanud Roesmin Nurjadin. The parade was led by Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djamari Chaniago, with Minister of Environment and Forestry Raja Juli Antoni, and BNPB head Suharyanto.

Riau Police Chief Inspector General Herry Heryawan introduced the drone to Djamari during a check of disaster response facilities at the Riau Police stand. The drone was flown over several hotspot-prone locations in Riau Province.

The unmanned aerial vehicle captured the coordinates of hotspot locations, which were then relayed to officers. With the aid of the drone, officers will move quickly to the site to promptly extinguish the fire.

For information, the Riau Police do not only use the drone to monitor karhutla, but also to scrutinise illegal gold mining activities (PETI) in the Riau region.

Djamari Chaniago said the parade represents a strategic step in strengthening preparedness to face potential forest and land fires, particularly in Riau Province, which has long been prone to karhutla. He stressed the importance of maintaining the balance of nature.

‘We need to remind ourselves that nature will react in accordance with our actions. The same applies in reverse; the actions we take will show nature’s reaction to us. Can we give something good for the interests of nature?’ he said.

He stressed that protecting nature is a shared responsibility. He also added that this readiness parade is a first step to re-establishing the relationship between humans and nature.

‘Nature will also provide good things for us; this is the starting point we must realise. Then our responsibility to the nation and our obligation to protect the nature bestowed upon us all by Allah SWT,’ he explained.

According to him, this karhutla readiness parade is not merely an annual ceremonial agenda. The activity is a symbol of real readiness of all elements of the nation in caring for and overseeing Indonesia’s natural resources.