Forestry minister acknowledges rising hotspots, prioritizes West and Central Kalimantan for fire response

Indonesia’s forest-fire response is turning back toward West Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan after hotspot numbers in both provinces began rising again. Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said the two provinces had become the country’s main priorities.

“After all six priority provinces showed a downward trend yesterday, West Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan have now recorded rising hotspots again,” Raja Juli said in a statement received in Jakarta on Wednesday. He said the national focus therefore remained on the two provinces.

After inspecting fires in Jambi, Raja Juli said he and National Disaster Management Agency chief Lieutenant General Suharyanto would travel to Pontianak. They planned to meet the West Kalimantan governor, police chief and military commander to strengthen coordination, review the situation and plan mitigation measures.

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After all six priority provinces showed a downward trend yesterday, West Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan have now recorded rising hotspots again. This means that our main national priorities remain West Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan.

“Tomorrow we will go to Pontianak to meet all the stakeholders again, including the governor, police chief and military commander, close ranks again, conduct an evaluation and make a plan for what we can do to mitigate the fires,” he said.

The minister called for continued vigilance and cooperation, noting that the peak of El Niño would occur in September. Forestry Ministry Sipongi data as of September 1 showed West Kalimantan’s hotspots rising from 273 to 859 and Central Kalimantan’s from 253 to 623. South Sumatra rose from 20 to 89, South Kalimantan from 22 to 73, Jambi from zero to four, while Riau remained at zero.

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Tomorrow we will go to Pontianak to meet all the stakeholders again, including the governor, police chief and military commander, close ranks again, conduct an evaluation and make a plan for what we can do to mitigate the fires.