Mahfud Ensures That Forest And Land Fire Enforcement Is Improved, 35 Burned Areas Are Sealed

PHOTO OF ILLUSTRATION VIA BETWEEN/HOOD Fires On Mount Lawu, East Java

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD said that law enforcement related to forest and land fires (karhutla) continues to be improved in order to protect the forest and land environment amidst the phenomenon of El Nino.

"Law enforcement is increasing, for example, currently there are 35 areas that have been sealed as the first step in law enforcement," said Coordinating Minister Mahfud MD as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, October 9.

Dozens of people, continued Mahfud, have become suspects because of the burning of forests and land.

Mahfud MD said that based on BMKG predictions, the El Nino phenomenon will last until February-March 2024, even though the moderate estimate is until January 2024.

"Hopefully El Nino will finish in January, but we have to anticipate until February-March 2024," he said.

The peak impact of El Nino occurred in September 2023, where currently there is a hot temperature due to direct sunlight to the earth without any cloud cover.

"So that we are always vigilant because we are still at the top of El Nino and will still last quite a long time until the beginning of next year," said Mahfud.

Previously, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) implemented layered law enforcement to ensnare the perpetrators who were proven to have caused forest and land fires (karhutla) in Indonesia.

"We enforce layered laws, both implementing administrative sanctions, including revocation of permits, then filing a lawsuit for compensation for the environment, and enforcing criminal law," said Director General of Environmental and Forestry Law Enforcement of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Ratio Ridho Sani.

The mechanism for enforcing layered criminal law is not only the imposition of basic crimes with a threat of 10 years in prison and a fine of Rp. 10 billion. In fact, the perpetrators can be subject to 12 years in prison and a fine of Rp. 12 billion if the fire incident has an impact on health.

From January 1, 2023 to October 5, 2023, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry has written to 220 corporations with indications of hot spots in their concession areas. The highest number of warning letters sent to companies in the West Kalimantan region reached 58 letters, Central Kalimantan as many as 43 letters, East Kalimantan there were 26 letters, and South Sumatra as many as 20 letters.

Not only that, but the Ministry of Environment and Forestry has also sealed 35 burned land so that it becomes a lesson for corporations and communities whose land is burned.

Details of the 35 lands that have been sealed are 11 lands in West Kalimantan, 16 lands in East Kalimantan, and 14 lands in South Sumatra. The majority of the land that was sealed was engaged in oil palm plantations.