Government temporarily bans traditional local land-clearing fires

Indonesia has temporarily stopped a practice known as local wisdom land clearing, under which residents could burn up to two hectares for local purposes. The suspension applies across all regional governments.

Djamari announced the decision after a meeting at the Marine Corps headquarters in Jakarta on Monday, September 7. He said authorities had coordinated the halt to the permits previously available to local communities.

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We know that what is referred to as local wisdom allowed local residents to carry out burning for local purposes over an area of two hectares. That too has been coordinated and stopped.

National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo said the practice had been withdrawn because Indonesia was experiencing an extreme El Niño and a prolonged dry season. He cited an instruction from the president calling for the local-burning provision to be suspended.

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Because we are currently entering an extreme prolonged dry season caused by El Niño, the implementation of forest burning under local wisdom is not allowed or has been eliminated.

Listyo warned that anyone who continued to violate the ban could face criminal, civil and administrative penalties. Police and military personnel are also working in the field to explain the rules to residents.

He said the local regulations had included conditions such as reporting the activity to the village head, creating firebreaks, reporting the results and monitoring the burning. Those provisions, however, do not apply while the temporary suspension is in force.

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The local rules themselves also contain regulations and conditions, including reporting to the village head and having a firebreak.