Indonesian Govt Tackles Forest Fires with These Five Main Strategies

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry has praised joint firefighting teams for curbing the spread of forest and land fires throughout August. However, as Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni warned, authorities must remain vigilant as the El Niño weather phenomenon is expected to peak in September.

"An evaluation of the situation throughout August shows that the response has improved in several areas. However, this is no reason for complacency. September will be a critical month for us to remain fully vigilant and strengthen coordination in firefighting efforts," Antoni said at a press briefing in Jakarta on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, as quoted from the ministry's website.

Minister Antoni said the government’s response to forest and land fires is centered on five main strategic pillars. One of them is intensive weather modification operations conducted in coordination with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) and the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).

The operations aim to stimulate rainfall and increase soil moisture in six priority provinces. Three are in Sumatra (Riau, Jambi and South Sumatra), while the remainder are in Kalimantan (West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan and South Kalimantan).

Authorities are also carrying out waterbombing operations, deploying 53 aircraft to patrol and extinguish fires in areas that are difficult to access by land. Ground task forces have likewise been strengthened through cooperation among ministry personnel, the military, police and local communities, as they have proven to contain and completely extinguish fires "highly effectively" at their source.

Law enforcement is a key pillar, as police are handling cases involving 89 suspects, while the ministry's Directorate General of Law Enforcement is pursuing dozens of criminal cases and reviewing business permits linked to fire-related violations. Another pillar focuses on public education and participation to raise awareness about the risks of land burning for clearing purposes, as well as negligent behavior such as throwing away cigarettes in dry areas.

To promote transparency, the Ministry of Forestry is also relying on Sipongi, a satellite-based digital monitoring system that operates around the clock. The system is publicly accessible and provides real-time information on hotspots and wind movements.

“Preventing forest and land fires is a collective effort. With technical collaboration, fair law enforcement, and growing public awareness, we are optimistic that we can get through this high-risk period successfully,” he said.