President Prabowo Subianto ordered a review of regional regulations that allow individuals to burn up to two hectares of land, warning that such provisions create dangerous loopholes for uncontrolled forest and land fires. The move follows discussions in Jakarta regarding peatland management and wildfire prevention.
Wildfire prevention in Indonesia’s vast peatlands requires a fundamental shift in how authorities address both regulatory gaps and on-the-ground firefighting logistics. President Prabowo Subianto raised concerns at the Merdeka Palace regarding eight district-level regulations that permit individuals to clear land using fire if the plots measure two hectares or smaller.
The Policy Loophole and the Reality of Fire Control
During a discussion with academics and researchers specializing in peatland management, the President challenged the practicality of containing fires within such limits once ignition takes place. He noted that a single hectare matches the scale of a football field, making it nearly impossible for one person to stop a blaze once it starts spreading across dry terrain.
First, we have to correct the regulations. We must be firm about that. There are still eight district regulations.
President Prabowo Subianto, via Indonesiabusinesspost
The Indonesian Forest Entrepreneurs Association (APHI) backed the administration’s stance on regulatory reform. APHI Chairman Soewarso emphasized that clearing methods relying on fire present an unacceptable threat to surrounding ecosystems and communities.
Deployment of Personnel and Operational Logistics
Beyond regulatory changes, the government has moved to bolster physical defenses against seasonal blazes. Officials deployed 1,000 TNI personnel and local government officers to districts across the country to drive public education and preventive interventions.
Peatland management presents unique hydrological challenges due to subsurface moisture conditions. The government is preparing assistance for communities that need land for cultivation, including land allocation and water pumps, as part of efforts to reduce the incentive to clear land through burning.
Aligning Central Oversight with Regional Enforcement
Industrial forestry leaders stress that regulatory changes must coincide with strict enforcement against corporate actors who use fire for land preparation. Soewarso noted that prevention must take priority before flames are ever lit, requiring a combination of improved land management, adequate community support, and clear accountability for business operators.
With Indonesia’s extensive peatland cover operating under strict utilization limits, authorities continue to investigate illegal burning while coordinating central directives with regional implementation.