JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs (Menko Polkam) Djamari Chaniago emphasized the importance of the readiness of the parties concerned to face the potential for forest and land fires (karhutla) in 2026 in Indonesia in general and West Kalimantan (Kalbar) in particular.
"The threat of fire in West Kalimantan has been real since the beginning of the year and requires continued vigilance," he said at the Karhutla Disaster Preparedness Apel in Pontianak, Thursday, April 16.
The apple was also attended by the Governor of West Kalimantan Ria Norsan, the Secretary of the West Kalimantan Government Harisson, Forkopimda, and the heads of regions in West Kalimantan.
The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs emphasized that the characteristics of peatland in West Kalimantan were a major challenge in handling the forest and peatland fire because the fire could spread below the ground and be difficult to completely extinguish.
In addition, based on BMKG's analysis, the 2026 dry season is expected to come early with drier conditions that have the potential to increase the risk of fires, especially in the second semester of this year.
He said that data as of March 31, 2026 showed that the burned land area had reached around 10,600 hectares spread across a number of areas such as Kubu Raya, Sambas, Ketapang, Mempawah, and Kayong Utara.
This condition, he said, shows that the threat of forest fires is comprehensive in all regencies/cities.
Meanwhile, the Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Lieutenant General TNI Suharyanto emphasized the importance of anticipatory steps before a fire occurs through an early warning system and weather modification operations.
"BMKG has provided early warning, and BNPB is ready to intervene through weather modification technology," he said.
Downward trend
Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni also conveyed that the trend of forest fires in recent years has shown a decline thanks to increased cross-sectoral coordination.
"Collaborative work that is coordinated is able to reduce the number of fires. This must continue to be improved," he said.
However, he encouraged local governments in areas prone to forest fires to immediately establish an emergency alert status so that central government support could be operationalized faster, including budgetary support and handling technology.
"The state budget support for forest and land fires is not limited. The important thing is that the alert status is immediately determined," he said.
In response to this, West Kalimantan Governor Ria Norsan emphasized the commitment of the local government in strengthening the control of karhutla through cross-sectoral collaboration, including the TNI, Polri and other stakeholders.
Early detection
He said that the strengthening of patrols at the foot level through the Forest Management Unit (KPH) continued to be improved, while tightening supervision of plantation and forestry companies related to the obligation to provide extinguishing facilities in the concession area.
"We must not work alone. Collaboration between all parties is the key to preventing the spread of hotspots," said Ria Norsan.
He also emphasized the importance of a rapid response based on early detection, especially in vulnerable areas such as Kubu Raya, Ketapang, and Sambas.
The provincial government, he said, is also speeding up the determination of the emergency standby status so that central support such as weather modification operations and "water bombing" helicopters can be immediately optimized.
"Once a fire point is detected, the team must immediately move without waiting for the fire to grow," he said.
Ria Norsan also appealed to the public to play an active role in efforts to prevent forest fires because prevention measures are much more effective than handling when the fire has spread.
"Prevention is much more effective and efficient. Let's keep West Kalimantan from karhutla," said Ria Norsan.
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