"In accordance with President Prabowo Subianto's directive, the government has adopted a clear stance of zero tolerance for forest burning as a method of land clearing," Gunawan said in a press statement received on Monday.
The minister acknowledged that both communities and corporations have legitimate land needs for their businesses. However, he stressed that the government strongly opposes land burning, as it poses serious risks to public health.
"The president supports land clearing through modern, high-tech, and environmentally friendly methods," he added.
He said the president has instructed the government to provide communities and companies with access to alternative technologies for land clearing.
The program includes the provision of heavy machinery, eco-friendly land clearing tools, and technical assistance from relevant ministries.
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Gunawan stated that the technological support program will be rolled out gradually, beginning with areas highly prone to forest and land fires, especially in West Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan.
The government will also assist farmers and business owners in adopting sustainable land clearing methods. These efforts are aimed at significantly reducing forest burning practices by both companies and individuals.
Gunawan expressed appreciation for the Forest and Land Fire Coordination Desk, which has helped reduce the number of forest and land fires.
Thanks to coordinated efforts across ministries and agencies, the number of hotspots has declined significantly compared to 2024.
"This success is the result of a joint team from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), the Ministry of Forestry, the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), the National Police, the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), and all the authorities within the coordination desk. Strong coordination and a rapid response have been key to this success," he said.
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Translator: Walda Marison, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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