Jakarta – The government continues to increase alertness for potential forest and land fires (Karhutla) as we enter the dry season this year.
Head of the Center for Data, Information, and Disaster Communication of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Abdul Muhari, said that his party reminded the public and local governments to increase alertness for potential forest and land fires.
“Communities in areas prone to forest and land fires also need to be aware of hot temperatures and dry weather that have the potential to trigger forest and land fires,” said Abdul.
He emphasized that mitigation efforts, such as integrated patrols and early extinguishing of hotspots, must be carried out routinely, especially in vulnerable areas.
BNPB also appealed to the public to remain vigilant and actively follow weather information from official sources. If they find hotspots or emergency conditions, residents are asked to immediately report to the authorities.
“In handling forest and land fires, BNPB also invites the public to always be vigilant, following the development of weather information from official sources. If you find a hotspot, immediately report it to the authorities,” said Abdul.
According to Abdul, preparedness or mitigation efforts need to be strengthened, including active involvement of the community in important prone areas because forest and land fires still have the potential to increase in the third decade of June – until the peak of the dry season in July-August.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Forestry (Menhut), Raja Juli Antoni said that the area of national forest and land fires has continued to experience a significant decline in the last decade, based on official data from the Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia.
“Based on the latest data on the downward trend in forest and land fires, in 2015 the area of forest and land fires reached 2.6 million hectares, decreased to 1.6 million hectares in 2019, then decreased again to 1.1 million hectares in 2023,” said Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni.
This decline is considered an important achievement resulting from collaboration between various parties, starting from the central and regional governments, the TNI-Polri, to community participation.
“However, this achievement should not make us careless. We must remain alert, must not be arrogant, and continue to strengthen our readiness to face the threat of forest and land fires,” said the Minister of Forestry.
The Minister of Forestry continued, there is a need for synergy, discipline and concern from all parties so that forest and land fires do not occur.
“We must not play around with the threat of forest and land fires. There needs to be synergy, discipline and concern from all parties so that the success we have achieved so far can be maintained and improved,” concluded the Minister of Forestry.
