Indonesia Ministry of Environment bans land clearing by burning

Indonesia's Minister of Environment, Jumhur Hidayat, has issued Circular Letter Number 16 of 2026, officially prohibiting land clearing through burning. This measure aims to mitigate the risk of forest and land fires (karhutla) exacerbated by the El Nino climate phenomenon.

The circular directs governors, regents, and mayors to implement strategic prevention measures. These include establishing formal bans on burning, enacting moratoriums on regulations that permit the practice, and applying strict sanctions such as administrative penalties, fines, and criminal prosecution for violators.

Local governments are also instructed to coordinate various agencies, including environmental departments, disaster management agencies, forestry services, and security forces (TNI and Polri). Key actions include conducting integrated patrols, increasing public socialization, and monitoring groundwater levels in peatland ecosystems to prevent drying and subsequent fires.