South Kalimantan Government Designates Three Priority Areas for Forest and Land Fire Management

The Provincial Government of South Kalimantan has designated three priority areas for forest and land fire management as part of efforts to bolster preparedness ahead of potential increased fire risk during the dry season. Governor Muhidin outlined the measures to the Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs and the Ministry of Forestry during a national coordination meeting on forest and land fire control for 2026, held online. “The three priority areas for fire management in South Kalimantan include the Ring I area of Syamsudin Noor International Airport in Banjarbaru, the northern region covering six districts in the Banua Anam area, and the Meratus Mountains region encompassing Tanah Bumbu, Kotabaru, and parts of Tanah Laut,” he stated. The provincial government is also strengthening mitigation efforts through the issuance of a Governor’s Circular on Anticipation and Preparedness for Forest and Land Fires in 2026, accompanied by data-based mapping of fire-prone areas, increased integrated patrols, and enhanced periodic hotspot monitoring systems. Furthermore, fire control efforts are being reinforced through the construction of infrastructure such as retention basins, canals, and sluice gates in vulnerable areas, as well as conducting preparedness drills and fire suppression simulations involving various regional stakeholders. The central government, during the coordination meeting, stressed the importance of strengthening prevention, early detection, personnel and equipment readiness, and more integrated cross-sector coordination in accordance with Presidential Instruction No. 3 of 2020 on Forest and Land Fire Management in Indonesia. From the forestry sector, Head of the South Kalimantan Provincial Forestry Service Fathimatuzzahra affirmed her agency’s commitment to continuously improving preparedness through enhanced integrated patrols, hotspot monitoring, and public education as part of the prevention strategy in vulnerable areas. “Facing the potential dry season and the influence of El Niño, we are continuously improving resource readiness, strengthening cross-sector coordination, and prioritising preventive measures. Synergy between the central government, regional authorities, the business sector, and the community is the key to controlling forest and land fires,” she said. Through the establishment of these three priority areas, the South Kalimantan Provincial Government hopes to foster stronger cross-sector synergy so that fire prevention and suppression efforts can be more effective, integrated, and sustainable in the face of extreme climate change threats.