Kotawaringin Timur adopts adaptive policies for forest fires and dry season

Authorities in Kotawaringin Timur, Central Kalimantan, are implementing adaptive measures to manage the impacts of the 2026 dry season and ongoing forest and land fires (karhutla).

The Kotawaringin Timur Education Office has delegated the decision to implement 'learning from home' (BDR) policies to individual schools. This situational approach allows educational institutions to switch from in-person to remote learning based on local air quality and smoke exposure levels, following a regional regent's circular. Schools are encouraged to use digital platforms such as 'Rumah Pendidikan' and 'Sistem Informasi Perbukuan Indonesia' (SIBI) to facilitate distance learning.

Simultaneously, the Kotawaringin Timur Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) is urging the local government to use BMKG weather data to drive disaster preparedness. With a strong El Nino condition expected to persist into early 2027 and low rainfall predicted through September 2026, officials are emphasizing the need for proactive measures regarding water distribution, fire suppression, and agricultural protection to mitigate the effects of extreme weather.