The South Sumatra Regional Police (Polda Sumsel) collaborated with the Indonesian Forest Concession Holders Association (APHI) in organizing the 2026 Forest and Land Fire Prevention and Mitigation Training to strengthen preparedness against the upcoming dry season and the increasing risk of peatland fires in South Sumatra.
The training, held from May 20–22, 2026, at Jakabaring Sport City in Palembang, involved regional police units across South Sumatra, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Manggala Agni personnel, company fire response teams, and various other stakeholders.
Head of Operations of the South Sumatra Regional Police, Muhammad Anis Prasetio Santoso, stated that peatland areas in South Sumatra remain highly vulnerable to forest and land fires, requiring specialized understanding of prevention and firefighting strategies.
“Peatlands in South Sumatra are extensive, and we must understand the appropriate methods for handling fires in peat ecosystems with their unique characteristics. Currently, APP Group partner companies already possess tools to assess potential fire risks based on peatland vulnerability levels,” Anis said.
He added that the training was expected to improve personnel capacity and broaden participants’ understanding before conducting field operations focused on early prevention and public awareness campaigns.
“Early prevention measures are essential. In some cases, communities still clear land through burning practices, and once fire spreads into peatlands, it becomes extremely difficult to extinguish,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Chairman of Indonesian Forest Concession Holders Association, Soewarso, emphasized during his presentation on peatland fire mitigation that peatland fires are not merely about flames, but are also closely linked to governance, peat hydrology, community behavior, and environmental sustainability.
“Forest and land fires in peat ecosystems are not simply a matter of fire, but also issues of governance, human behavior, peat hydrology, and the sustainability of Indonesia’s future,” Soewarso stated.
He highlighted several priority measures that must be strengthened, including groundwater level monitoring, optimization of early warning systems, integrated patrols, and greater community involvement through Fire Concerned Communities (MPA) and Environmentally Prosperous Villages (DMPA).
According to Soewarso, the risk of forest and land fires in 2026 is expected to increase due to the potential impact of an extreme El Niño phenomenon, which could trigger prolonged droughts and severe dryness in vulnerable peatland regions.
During the event, Soewarso also expressed appreciation to three APHI member companies in South Sumatra — PT Bumi Mekar Hijau, PT Bumi Andalas Permai, and PT Rimba Hutani Mas — which received awards from the South Sumatra Police for their dedication to forest and land fire prevention, mitigation, and sustainable land productivity improvement efforts.
Chairman of APHI South Sumatra Regional Board, Iwan Setiawan, stated that APHI member companies in South Sumatra would continue strengthening coordination and collaboration with government institutions, law enforcement agencies, local communities, and other stakeholders to prevent and control forest and land fires.
According to him, multi-stakeholder collaboration is essential to improve preparedness ahead of the dry season and minimize fire risks, particularly in vulnerable peatland areas.
“We also encourage all APHI members to intensify public education and awareness campaigns for communities surrounding concession areas regarding the dangers of land clearing through burning practices that may trigger large-scale forest and land fires. Prevention efforts must be conducted consistently and sustainably to increase public awareness and reduce fire risks,” Iwan said.
Through stronger collaboration and partnerships, APHI reaffirmed its commitment to encouraging all members to implement sustainable forestry practices while strengthening forest and land fire prevention efforts across Indonesia. (***)
