Indonesia: Experts Urge Year-Round Risk-Based Prevention for Forest Fire Management

In Indonesia, experts are strongly advocating for the implementation of year-round prevention measures based on a risk-based approach to tackle forest and peatland fires (Karhutla). This proposal stems from the current reality where fire response efforts tend to be concentrated during the dry season, when fires typically escalate. Experts point out that assessing fire risks throughout the year and continuously carrying out corresponding prevention activities will lead to more effective fire management. Specifically, it is urged to identify areas and periods prone to fires, strengthen early warning systems, conduct awareness campaigns for local communities, and review land management practices systematically, starting before the dry season. The aim is to suppress the occurrence of fires itself and minimize damage if they do occur. In Indonesia, forest fires have repeatedly become a problem, causing severe air pollution and having significant impacts on economic activities and public health. Fires in peatlands, in particular, are difficult to extinguish once they start and emit large amounts of greenhouse gases, raising concerns about their impact on climate change. Experts emphasize that by implementing such year-round, risk-based prevention measures, it is possible to reduce fire damage and achieve a balance between sustainable environmental conservation and socio-economic activities.