BNPB Chief Suharyanto stated here on Wednesday that the seven provinces most vulnerable to forest and land fires are Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, and East Kalimantan.
According to Suharyanto, those provinces face a high risk of forest and peatland fires, so each will receive handling assistance from the Desk Karhutla.
"(Seven) provinces are prioritized for forest and land fire handling, with Riau receiving special handling," he explained.
He added that as of the end of April, only Riau has declared a fire emergency alert status, while other regions remain focused on addressing hydrometeorological disasters such as floods and landslides.
The BNPB will provide full assistance to the Desk Karhutla Task Force, including funding, equipment, and logistics for operational tasks on the ground and in the air. This support will be channeled through provincial governments and forwarded to districts or cities based on actual needs.
"Support will first be given to Riau, which is a priority. Other regions will follow with the same assistance standards," he added.
With the Desk Karhutla Task Force, the government also strengthened the legal framework for forest and land management.
Suharyanto emphasized that the BNPB will work with the Forestry Ministry, the Indonesian Military (TNI), and the police to develop a policy for preventing forest and land fires.
This regulation will provide the basis for law enforcement against violations, such as land clearing by burning.
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Translator: Prasetyo, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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