State Secretary Reveals Prabowo Orders Revision of Regional Regulations Allowing Land Clearing by Burning

State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi has revealed President Prabowo Subianto’s directive that regional regulations allowing land clearing by burning be revised. The matter was emphasised by Prabowo during a meeting on forest and land fire management in Kalimantan.

“Indeed, there are regional regulations, both in West Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan, that do allow land clearing by burning, but once again, that does not mean it is actually permitted,” Pras told reporters at Tjilik Riwut Airport, Central Kalimantan, on Saturday (22/8/2026).

“It is a form of local wisdom, but as agreed in the meeting, the first request is for those regional regulations to be prohibited or adjusted,” he continued.

Pras said land clearing can be carried out through other means, such as using heavy equipment. According to him, the government will provide solutions for land clearing.

“The excavators needed to clear land have also been decided by the President, with plans to strengthen or add heavy equipment to help communities who wish to clear land, in the hope that they will not clear land by burning,” he said.

Previously, the Ministry of Environment issued its latest regulation concerning land clearing. Environment Minister Jumhur Hidayat has officially prohibited land clearing by burning.

The regulation is set out in Circular Letter Number 16 of 2026 concerning the Prohibition of Land Clearing by Burning. The Ministry of Environment has confirmed that legal sanctions will apply to parties who violate the guidelines.

“The Ministry of Environment and the Environmental Control Agency are fully committed to stopping the practice of land clearing by burning,” Jumhur said in a statement to reporters on Friday (21/8/2026).