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<\/p>\nJAKARTA \u2014 Forest and land fires (Karhutla) struck several provinces in Kalimantan and Sumatra in 2026. The National Disaster Mitigation Board (BNPB) recorded that approximately 72,000 hectares of peatland burned across six provinces.<\/p>\n
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Eddy Martono, Chairman of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI), explained that the majority of fire incidents occurred outside areas of oil palm plantation concessions. “But we remain vigilant regarding the situation in Central Kalimantan, a province where the number of hotspots are still relatively high,” Eddy said during a discussion with Aulia Wardhani on the “Squawk Box” program, CNBC Indonesia, on Wednesday (9\/9\/2026).<\/p>\n
According to Eddy, the latest reports indicate that the overall number of hotspots is beginning to decline, except in Central Kalimantan, which remains a particular concern for the local GAPKI chapter. He explained that hotspot data is categorized by three levels of intensity low, medium, and high and noted that not every hotspot automatically signifies an active fire on the ground.<\/p>\n
“In fact, most of the burning occurs outside the concessions. The number of hotspots within the concessions is small,” said Eddy.<\/p>\n
Although concession areas remain relatively safe from fires, the palm oil industry continues to face operational challenges due to the prolonged dry season. In West Kalimantan, for instance, several GAPKI members have struggled to transport Crude Palm Oil (CPO) as river water levels have dropped drastically. This situation prompted some companies to temporarily halt the acceptance of Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB) from smallholders, as their production capacities were also disrupted.<\/p>\n
Efforts to tackle the forest and land fires this year have involved a collaborative approach among various stakeholders ranging from central and regional governments to plantation companies who assist in prevention and suppression activities, including in areas outside their own concessions. Eddy cited an example from his visit to Banjarmasin, where plantation operators helped extinguish fires near the airport to prevent disruptions to flight operations.<\/p>\n
Plantation companies are required to maintain firefighting equipment as part of their preparedness for forest and land fires. This equipment is frequently deployed to assist with firefighting efforts outside concession boundaries when their own areas are secure.<\/p>\n
Daily coordination with the Ministry of Forestry regarding fire hotspot data including locations and coordinates is still ongoing. The information is relayed to field teams for ground checks to verify the status of hotspots in respective areas.<\/p>\n
In response to the perception held by some members of the public linking forest and land fires to land-clearing activities for oil palm plantations, Eddy offered a clarification. He stated that business licensing processes whether for the renewal of Cultivation Rights (HGU) or for new plantation permits are still underway and have not yet received approval.<\/p>\n
“The official permits haven’t even been issued yet, so it makes no sense to assume that burning is being carried out for the purpose of new oil palm planting,” he explained.<\/p>\n
He also pointed out that the legal consequences for land fires are severe, encompassing fines for environmental restoration that could exceed the value of the company’s assets, as well as the threat of criminal prosecution.<\/p>\n
Eddy also referred to Article 69, Paragraph 2 of Law Number 32 of 2009, which grants local communities an exemption to clear land by burning up to a maximum of two hectares based on local wisdom. This provision has long been a subject of widespread public discussion.<\/p>\n
GAPKI welcomes the issuance of Presidential Instruction (Inpres) Number 11 of 2026, which tightens restrictions on land-burning practices even those based on local wisdom particularly during periods of extreme drought and on peatlands. Eddy considers this policy crucial because it involves the coordinated participation of all ministries and local governments.<\/p>\n
“Addressing forest and land fires cannot be the sole responsibility of any single party whether it be companies, the government, law enforcement, or the community. All parties must be involved in preventing these fires from occurring,” Eddy concluded.<\/p>\n