“Do not wait for the fire to come before acting quickly. Preparedness is key to disaster prevention and to protecting land productivity,” he said during a forest and land fire coordination meeting with the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) here on Saturday.
He noted that West Kalimantan is among the provinces most prone to wildfires. If not addressed early, fire incidents could disrupt national food and bioenergy production.
The minister emphasized the need for synergy between the government, private sector, and communities in forest and land fire prevention efforts.
“All parties must take part, from monitoring fire-prone areas and providing education to ensuring sufficient firefighting equipment,” he said.
As of May 16, 2025, a total of 198 hotspots have been detected in West Kalimantan. The figure reflects a 62-percent decrease compared to the same period last year.
However, the risk of wildfires remains high in the province, especially with the dry season expected to begin in June.
“We must not become complacent. Fire hotspots can reappear once the weather turns dry. Everyone must be on alert starting now,” he cautioned.
As per data from the Environment Ministry, from 2015 to 2024, a total of 79 areas with right-to-work on land (HGU) permits recorded fires, which gutted approximately 42,476 hectares of land.
Several locations experienced repeated fires, indicating weak preventive measures by some companies.
“We are calling on companies to go beyond firefighting and actively conduct preventive efforts. They must equip themselves with internal emergency response systems, including firefighting teams, equipment, and reliable communication channels,” Nurofiq stressed.
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Translator: Rendra, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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