Indonesia and Korea Strengthen Joint Efforts Against Forest Fires

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia is intensifying its fight against forest and land fires with a new international training program launched in Ogan Komering Ilir (OKI), South Sumatra, on June 8, 2026.

The Basic Training on Forest Fire Suppression was officially opened by the Ministry of Forestry,, through its Directorate of Forest Fire Control, in collaboration with the Bureau of Public Relations and International Cooperation.

Head of the Bureau of Public Relations and International Cooperation, Ristianto Pribadi, emphasized that sustainable forest management can only be achieved through strong collaboration.

“This tactical step is the result of cross-country and private sector synergy, designed to strengthen fire prevention capacity directly from the source, especially in concession areas,” he said, as quoted on the ministry's official website, on Monday, June 8, 2026.

The program is part of Indonesia’s strategic partnership with the Korea Forest Service (KFS) under the MoU on Forest Fire Management and Post-Fire Restoration Cooperation. Both countries are committed to enhancing prevention, preparedness, rapid response, and post-fire recovery.

Representing the Directorate of Forest Fire Control, Sub-Directorate Head M. Hariyanto highlighted Indonesia’s rising climate commitment. He noted that the national target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions has increased from 41 percent to 43 percent, aligned with the Forest and Other Land Use (FOLU) Net Sink 2030 policy.

Hariyanto added that the training also serves as a platform to introduce the new Forest and Land Fire Management Center in OKI, developed jointly with KFS.

"This is not just a routine agenda but a long-term preventive measure. The center will become a modern learning hub to boost fire management capacity for government, private sector, local communities, and regional authorities,” he explained.

International cooperation remains a cornerstone of this initiative. Co-Director of the Korea-Indonesia Forest Cooperation Center (KIFC) Jeong Cheol Ho, said that Korea has been fully committed over the past five years to building a forest fire management system in OKI with support from KFS.

The private sector also expressed strong support. Kong Byoung Sun of POSCO International Indonesia praised the initiative as proof of the close bilateral ties between Indonesia and Korea.

"Through Manggala Agni, knowledge transfer and capacity building in fire mitigation are being accelerated. Participants are expected to return to their posts with full preparedness, able to respond to fire hotspots within minutes, and maintain solid coordination in the field,” he said.

The intensive training, held from June 8–10, 2026, was organized by Manggala Agni Daops Sumatera XVII OKI with support from KIFC. A total of 25 internal fire suppression personnel from PT Prime Agri Resources (PAR) and PT Bio Inti Agrindo (BIA), subsidiaries of POSCO International in agribusiness and palm oil, took part in the program. ***