JAKARTA — The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) has called for clarity on the strict liability provision as its executive members stepped up coordination on the forest and land fires (Karhutla) with the Deputy Coordinating Minister for Food, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, in Jakarta on Thursday (15/10/2026). The meeting addressed the latest developments reported from regions and efforts to combat the fires, while the strict liability issue featured prominently in the discussion.^[1]

The meeting also aimed to evaluate the impact of those fires on areas designated for national food, energy, and water self-sufficiency in the provinces of Central Kalimantan and South Sumatra, while the strict liability regulation remained a key concern for oil palm growers.^[1]

GAPKI Seeks Clarity on Strict Liability

On that occasion, GAPKI Chairman Eddy Martono expressed the hope of oil palm growers for a solution regarding the strict liability provision, as well as for the protection of business operators. He argued that member companies—which remain on 24-hour alert and assist in extinguishing fires even outside their own concession areas—should not continue to be subjected to negative stigma.^[1]

“We must work together to eliminate these stigmas. It is really unfortunate for these companies. Despite their efforts to help put out fires outside their concessions, they still face serious and unfounded accusations,” said Eddy.

GAPKI believes that legal certainty on strict liability would keep member companies—many of which have deployed equipment beyond their own concessions—from being unfairly blamed. In his view, responsible companies should not be stigmatized under strict liability rules they have done nothing to violate.^[1] The appeal follows the association’s recent call for a proof-based approach to Karhutla handling before any party is held responsible.^[1]

Eddy emphasized that GAPKI always acts swiftly whenever an early warning is issued. “Whenever we receive a warning from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) or the government—for instance, regarding the onset of El Niño—we instruct all our members, through our regional branches, to verify their readiness and ensure that all units of necessary equipment are well positioned for extinguishing efforts in case of any forest and land fires,” he stated.^[1]

Almost 500 Business Entities Assigned in Central Kalimantan

Hanif Faisol Nurofiq identified the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) and the Indonesian Forest Concessionaires Association (APHI) as partners to the Coordinating Ministry for Food in executing a presidential mandate—specifically, Presidential Instruction No. 11 of 2026, which focuses on strengthening the enforcement of the ban on land clearing by burning, as well as the control of forest and land fires.^[1]

The instruction tasks the Coordinating Ministry for Food with supporting fire control efforts in four provinces—South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Sumatra, and South Papua—while simultaneously managing emissions.^[1]

“The only way to manage emissions is to ensure the fires are extinguished. If the flames continue to burn, emissions will only increase. Therefore, we are mobilizing all business entities,” said Hanif.

In South Kalimantan, approximately 300 business entities have been involved since August. They have successfully brought nearly 3,000 hectares of burned areas—located near the city center—under control. Efforts are now being expanded to cover an area of approximately 10,000 hectares. Of this, about 8,500 hectares are being addressed through soil tilling, while another 1,500–1,600 hectares are being managed through the inundation of peatlands.^[1]

This model of collaboration between the government and business entities will also be implemented in Central Kalimantan, involving nearly 500 business entities. Based on an analysis of maps, drainage systems, canals, road access, and water sources, the government has identified two priority locations. The first is in Palangka Raya, covering approximately 39,000 hectares—an area prone to recurring fires. The second is a protected peatland area in Pulang Pisau, spanning over 90,000 hectares.^[1]

The team will soon conduct field verifications to determine the appropriate intervention measures, following the approach used in South Kalimantan.^[1]

Back to Improvement of Peatland Landscape

Hanif explained that peat degradation in Central Kalimantan stems from the massive clearing of peatlands in the mid-1990s, which was carried out without adequate environmental assessment. This land clearing drained water from the peat, leaving behind a network of canals that remain poorly managed to this day.^[1]

He noted that this year’s forest and land fires serve as an important lesson. In the past, weather modification operations were frequently relied upon to extinguish fires. However, under the current positive conditions of Indian Ocean Dipole, the atmospheric moisture available to be converted into rain is extremely limited.^[1]

“We must not accept these forest and land fires as an inevitable fate that we are simply destined to face every year,” Hanif asserted.

Consequently, the government intends to strengthen the management of peat landscapes. The primary approach involves controlling all canals through the installation of permanent or semi-permanent canal blocks, alongside the rewetting and revitalization of peatlands.^[1]

This undertaking requires the collaboration of central and local governments, the private sector, and the community. The President also plans to re-establish a dedicated agency for the management of peatlands and mangroves. Nevertheless, Hanif emphasized that landscape restoration efforts need not wait for the formal establishment of this agency, as comprehensive data on peatlands has been compiled and is readily available, dating back to the major fires of 2015.^[1]

Financing Scheme

According to Hanif, the financing for peatland restoration can be pursued through several channels:^[1]

• Obligations of concession holders. Concession holders operating within and around peatland areas are required to implement water management and community revitalization initiatives.
• Government budget. The government provides funding, for instance, through the establishment of an agency dedicated to the management of peatlands and mangroves.
• International support. This includes funding from Norway, which has reached nearly IDR 4 trillion.^[1]
• Carbon economic value. This scheme operates under Presidential Regulation No. 110 of 2025. Hanif advocates for domestic demand for renewable energy certificates and carbon offsets—including those required by state-owned utility company PT PLN—to be met through investments in local projects rather than by purchasing them from abroad.^[1]

The Coordinating Ministry for Food, which oversees the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Forestry, has expressed its readiness to coordinate the development of these peatland landscapes in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders, while GAPKI continues to seek clarity on strict liability for the companies that assist firefighting efforts. (Fetry Wuryasti)^[1]