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GAPKI, APHI Strengthen Collaboration To Control Karhutla

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JAKARTA – The Association of Indonesian Forest Concession Holders (APHI) and the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) have formally established a strategic cooperation to control forest and land fires (Karhutla) through community empowerment in Indonesia.

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Forest and Land Fire Management between the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) and the Indonesian Forest Entrepreneurs Association (APHI). (Jakarta, 16 October 2025) Doc. GAPKI

APHI Chairman Soewarso and GAPKI Chairman Eddy Martono signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the Karhutla cooperation in a signing ceremony, which was witnessed by representatives from the ministry of environment, ministry of forestry, and ministry of agriculture in Jakarta on Thursday (16/10/2025.

APHI Chairman Soewarso said that the inter-sectoral cooperation is a concrete step of business players to support the government in reducing the risk of Karhutla cases sustainably.

“Fostering communities is the key factor in preventing Karhutla cases effectively. Through this collaboration, we want to ensure that people living around forest areas and plantations have the capacity and incentives to maintain the environment without resorting to burning land areas,” said Soewarso.

Meanwhile, GAPKI Chairman Eddy Martono said that controlling Karhutla needs collaborations among all stakeholders, including the business players.

“In the forest-based businesses, there are many interconnected parts regarding forest governance and Karhutla that could not be resolved partially. Therefore, inter-sectoral cooperation is the key to ensure the effectiveness of karhutla control,” said Eddy.

As a follow-up step of the MoU signing, the two organizations have agreed to set up a joint coordination team of APHI–GAPKI for Karhutla control at the central level. The team will formulate an annual work plan, determine priorities of Karhutla-prone areas, and coordinate various programs of socializations, trainings, and field patrols.

The scope of the collaboration includes:

  • Education and awareness-raising for communities living around forests and plantations,
  • Development of alternative economies to reduce reliance on land burning,
  • Strengthening the Fire-Aware Village program,
  • Human resource capacity building, and
  • Utilization of more efficient and environmentally friendly fire control technologies.

APHI and GAPKI are also committed to developing a module of forestry community development and providing supporting infrastructure for Karhutla control around their members’ working areas.

This collaboration will last for three years and can be extended by agreement. Funding for the activities will come from contributions from APHI and GAPKI members, as well as non-binding support from other parties.

Through this collaboration, the two organizations hope that synergy between forestry and plantation businesses will strengthen environmental resilience, increase community participation, and help realize the national target of reducing the risk of forest and land fires in Indonesia. (*)

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