Environment Ministry pushes regions to crack down on land burning

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3 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s Environment Ministry has issued a circular letter urging regions to ban land clearing through burning nationwide to curb the risks of forest and land fires during the dry season and El Niño.

According to a statement received in Jakarta on Thursday, Circular Letter No. 16 of 2026 took effect on Aug. 10, calling on all governors, district heads, and mayors to tighten enforcement against land burners as the country faces rising temperatures and prolonged dry conditions.

“We are not giving room for the practice of burning to clear land. All parties must abide by this rule for the sake of environmental protection, public health, and economic sustainability,” Environment Minister M. Jumhur Hidayat said.

He emphasized that the issuance of the circular was driven by the continued practice of land burning for clearing, which often generates toxic haze, causes severe environmental damage, and triggers spikes in greenhouse gas emissions.

Through the circular, the Environment Ministry expects regional leaders to take strategic and measured steps, including enforcing a ban on land burning, imposing a moratorium on lenient local regulations, and applying strict penalties on violators.

In addition, regional heads are also encouraged to strengthen coordination with local environment offices, disaster mitigation agencies, forestry offices, the military, and the police to step up prevention efforts, conduct joint patrols, intensify dissemination, and bolster surveillance in fire-prone areas.

Other instructions include regular monitoring of peat water table levels, maintaining canal block functions, rewetting land in vulnerable conditions, and ensuring permit holders’ preparedness while empowering communities through active involvement in wildfire task forces.

The circular is backed by multiple existing regulations, most notably Article 69 and Article 108 of the 2009 Environmental Protection and Management Law.