Indonesia pushes structural reform to prevent forest fires

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Ministry of Forestry is reshaping its regulatory framework and local defense systems to mitigate forest and land fires ahead of an expected early and prolonged dry season, officials announced on Tuesday.

The state-led initiative shifts the government's approach from reactive firefighting to long-term prevention as meteorologists warn of extended dry conditions across the archipelago.

“What I want is structural improvement, not just case-by-case responses," Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said in a statement.

"We need to identify which regulations require changes and what actions we must take to bring about a structural, long-term shift.”

Under the directive, authorities are auditing fire-control instruments to minimize seasonal hotspots.

Key measures include weather modification operations to seed clouds, continuous monitoring of peatland groundwater levels, and the mobilization of emergency personnel and equipment in high-risk zones.

While acknowledging that zero fire incidents remains the ultimate ideal, Antoni stressed that the immediate operational mandate is to curb outbreaks before they escalate into regional crises.

Indonesia’s seasonal fires, often exacerbated by dry spells and peatland drainage, historically trigger thick agricultural haze that affects neighboring Southeast Asian nations.

“We must take concrete steps to ensure we can better control forest and land fires this year and next, bringing the numbers down further,” Antoni added.

Ministry officials stated that deployment strategies and preventative resources will be dynamically adjusted based on real-time climate data and regional vulnerabilities on the ground.

Translator: Arnidhya Nur, Raka Adji

Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono

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