Minister urges strict action against land clearing by burning

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni, during a press conference following the 2026 Special Coordination Meeting on Forest and Land Fire Mitigation, urged all parties to stop clearing land through burning practices.

"To all stakeholders, including communities and private companies that are accustomed to using cheap and quick methods for land clearing, such as burning forests, I remind you that the police and the Attorney General's Office will take strict action against such practices," he said here on Thursday.

He made the statement in response to the El Nino phenomenon currently affecting Indonesia.

He stressed that all parties must realize that Indonesia is not in a favorable situation with regard to forest and land fires.

A total of 81,000 hectares of land had burned as of May 2026 due to this year's El Nino conditions. Antoni said that El Nino is expected to reach its peak in July.

"A month ago, we were still briefed by the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) that El Nino this year would remain at a low to moderate level. The peak was expected next year, as this is part of a four-year cycle. However, BMKG has just updated us that by July, it will already reach a strong level," he said.

Therefore, he noted that the central government and regional governments have consolidated efforts to carry out mitigation measures, including weather modification operations and canal blocking techniques.

"God willing, if all stakeholders continue to work well together, we will be able to win the fight against forest and land fires," he remarked.

On the same occasion, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Djamari Chaniago emphasized that thorough preparations are essential to prevent forest and land fires.

Although there has been progress in handling El Nino-related impacts over the years, he underlined that such progress must be continuously improved.

"Therefore, today we have reached a joint agreement to tackle this problem across Indonesia, particularly in the six provinces most vulnerable to forest and land fires," he said.

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Translator: Sean, Kenzu

Editor: Azis Kurmala

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