Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia has reactivated the Forest and Land Fire (Karhutla) Coordination Desk to strengthen inter-agency coordination in addressing potential fires due to the El Niño phenomenon in 2026 and 2027.
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Djamari Chaniago stated that this step is a government-prepared measure ahead of the dry season, which has the potential to increase the risk of forest and land fires.
"As an anticipatory measure, the government is reactivating the Forest and Land Fire Coordination Desk in 2026," according to a press release from the Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs received on Thursday.
The decision was announced at the 2026 Special Coordination Meeting on Forest and Land Fire Control, entitled "Synergy for the Nation in Facing El Niño 2026 and 2027" at the Manggala Wanabakti Building, Jakarta, on Thursday.
According to Chaniago, the El Niño phenomenon has the potential to increase the risk of drought, reduce rainfall, increase the number of hotspots, and increase the likelihood of forest and land fires.
The government has also mapped six provinces with the potential for increased risk of forest and land fires: Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan.
He emphasized the importance of synergy between the central government, regional governments, and all stakeholders in forest and land fire prevention and management efforts.
According to Chaniago, the reactivation of the desk is necessary to ensure more effective inter-agency coordination and to prevent overlapping tasks in the field.
Previously, several agencies involved in the Forest and Land Fire Desk included the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), the Indonesian National Police (Polri), the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the Ministry of Forestry, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and local governments.
In the meeting, Chaniago requested all governors, regional military commanders (Pangdam), regional police chiefs (Kapolda), regional heads, the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), and relevant stakeholders to improve early preparedness.
He emphasized the need to optimize standby posts, integrated patrols, strengthen early detection systems, ensure personnel and equipment readiness, and involve businesses and the community in forest and land fire prevention.
Chaniago hopes that the reactivation of the Forest and Land Fire Desk will strengthen national coordination so that forest and land fire management is faster and more effective.
The Forest and Land Fire Desk and Task Force were previously disbanded after forest and land fires were deemed under control in 2025.
At that time, forest and land fire control was again handed over to each ministry and agency according to their respective duties and authorities.
Previously, forest and land fire management referred to Presidential Instruction Number 3 of 2020 and Decree of the Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs Number 29 of 2025.
Through these regulations, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) was responsible for implementing the Forest and Land Fire Desk, including ground operations, air operations through patrols and water bombing, and weather modification.
Although the Forest and Land Fire Desk and Task Force were disbanded, BNPB ensured that forest and land fire preparedness and anticipation efforts continued in accordance with established mechanisms.
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Translator: Arie Novarina Editor: Azis Kurmala Copyright © ANTARA 2026
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