Indonesian industry forest fire prevention efforts

Indonesian industry associations, specifically the Indonesian Forestry Entrepreneurs Association (APHI) and the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI), have initiated calls for enhanced forest and land fire (karhutla) prevention and suppression measures.

Initially, the associations urged member companies to prioritize preparedness due to concerns regarding the dry season and El Nino. Recommendations included ensuring the readiness of personnel, infrastructure, and early detection systems, as well as conducting routine patrols and educating local communities on fire-free land clearing.

Following these calls for preparedness, the associations shifted focus toward advocating for the establishment of joint protocols to accelerate fire suppression. This proposed framework aims to strengthen multi-stakeholder collaboration between private companies, local communities, regional governments, and security forces like the TNI and Polri. The objective is to ensure firefighting teams have unimpeded access to fire points, particularly in peatlands and drought-prone areas where rapid response is critical to preventing fires from crossing administrative or concession boundaries.