Indonesia intensifies forest fire mitigation amid 205% rise in hotspots

The South Kalimantan Forestry Department (Dishut Kalsel) led by Fathimatuzzahra announced strengthened coordination, routine monitoring and intensified vigilance to prevent forest and land fires in the Sultan Adam National Park during the dry season. "Meningkatkan kewaspadaan terhadap potensi karhutla sangat penting sebagai langkah mitigasi," he said.

At the national level, the Ministry of Forestry, represented by Deputy Minister Rohmat Marzuki, reported that satellite‑detected hotspots rose by about 205% to 1,007 points as of mid‑June, driven by an El Nino threat. From January to 31 May 2026, fires burned 81,077 hectares—53% within forest areas and 47% outside. The ministry carried out 1,586 ground firefighting operations covering 12,381 hectares and conducted weather‑modification activities in several provinces. It also imposed sanctions on 13 forest‑use permit holders and 14 legal entities for fire‑related violations.