Walhi urges Indonesian govt to review permits linked to wildfires

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2 hours ago

Samarinda, E Kalimantan (ANTARA) – Wahana Lingkungan Hidup Indonesia (Walhi) East Kalimantan Chapter has urged Indonesian government to take tougher action, including reviewing corporate permits, after companies were linked to thousands of wildfire hotspots across the province.

Walhi East Kalimantan Executive Director Fathur Roziqin Fen said in Samarinda on Tuesday that administrative sanctions and firefighting alone would not deter companies or restore ecological damage.

Walhi’s monitoring from August 1 to 25 identified 5,266 hotspots concentrated across three main concession types, to wit forest-utilisation permits, oil palm cultivation rights, and mining concessions.

Fathur said the high number of hotspots showed corporate permit holders had failed to meet their obligations to protect ecosystems and prevent fires in areas under their control.

“The government must not stop at firefighting or routine law enforcement, but immediately conduct comprehensive audits and revoke permits of companies allowing their concessions to repeatedly burn,” Fathur said.

He added recurring fires in concession areas exposed weaknesses in oversight and showed an unequal distribution of land that harmed communities through prolonged smoke exposure.

Walhi East Kalimantan therefore urged the government to use the current crisis to recognise and protect community-managed areas that have proved more effective at safeguarding forests.

Fathur explained indigenous peoples and local communities had strong cultural ties to nature and greater resilience in protecting ecosystems for future generations.

“Resolving this wildfire crisis must be accompanied by recognition of community-managed areas, because communities are already carrying out genuine restoration efforts,” he said.

Revoking permits from problematic companies and expanding community land rights, Walhi East Kalimantan noted, could deliver environmental justice and break Indonesia’s recurring annual cycle of wildfire smoke.