Forest fires spread as activists highlight natural resource governance issues

Indonesia is grappling with a resurgence of forest and land fires across Kalimantan, Sumatra, and Papua. Activists argue that these fires are not merely a consequence of drought but are indicative of deeper issues in the nation's natural resource governance.

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This is an accumulated impact of the climate crisis and poor natural resource management.

Firdaus Cahyadi, Program Officer for Natural Resources and Climate Justice at Yayasan Tifa, stated that the fires are an "accumulated impact of the climate crisis and poor natural resource management." He pointed to decades of extractive economic development that have damaged ecological balance amidst rich biodiversity. Cahyadi cited data from environmental organizations indicating that 74% of detected hotspots are within corporate concessions. Specifically, 10,739 hotspots were found in areas with plantation business use rights (HGU), 7,880 in mining concessions, and 6,905 in forestry utilization business permit areas.

Furthermore, a 2026 report by Auriga Nusantara highlighted a 66% increase in Indonesian deforestation in 2025, resulting in the loss of 433,751 hectares of forest. This marks the highest figure in eight years, partly attributed to the expansion of large-scale food security programs. Cahyadi also noted that poor natural resource management has exacerbated agrarian conflicts, with the Consortium for Agrarian Reform reporting a 300% surge in such conflicts in 2025 compared to the previous year.

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Not only environmental damage, but poor natural resource management also causes an increase in agrarian conflicts.

In response, the government is strengthening integrated operations, deploying thousands of personnel and air support to contain the fires and mitigate the impact of smoke. However, activists like Cahyadi are urging a fundamental policy shift. He called for an evaluation of plantation, mining, and forestry permits, and an halt to expansion that damages remaining forest ecosystems. Cahyadi advocates for a transition from an extractive economic model to a restorative one, emphasizing that while fire suppression is crucial short-term, long-term solutions require addressing the root causes in policy.

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Technical suppression of hotspots is an important step for the short term. However, without fundamental changes in policy foundations, Indonesia will continue to create new sacrifice zones for the extractive economy.