Climate & Environment

Indonesia Records 1,201 High‑Confidence Forest Hotspots Amid Ongoing Haze

By The Star

JAKARTA – Forest and land fires in Indonesia continued on Wednesday, October 7, with 1,201 high‑confidence hotspots recorded nationwide, a decline of 158 from the previous day. The Forestry Ministry reported that Central Kalimantan had the most hotspots at 182, followed by South Sumatra (71), West Kalimantan (34), Jambi (21) and South Kalimantan (18); Riau reported none.

The ministry said it has kept 61 aerial units on standby, including 17 for patrol and weather‑modification operations and 44 for water bombing. Ground operations such as firefighting, firebreaks, and wetting and cooling of peatlands are also underway to prevent fires from reigniting.

Heavy smoke from the fires has caused transboundary haze affecting neighbouring countries. In Malaysia, 35 areas recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) levels as of 10 a.m. Wednesday, leading to the closure of schools in Johor for two days because of unhealthy air quality.

Indonesian Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni stated that the ministry is committed to gradually expanding the country’s forest police force from about 4,500 personnel currently to 70,000 within three to four years, as announced by President Prabowo Subianto. "For us at the Forestry Ministry, strengthening the forest police is very important to improve the monitoring and protection of forest areas, including from the threat of encroachment and forest fires," Raja Juli said in an Instagram post on Wednesday.