KALTIMPOST.ID, SAMARINDA – Smoke from forest and land fires (karhutla) continues to blanket parts of Kalimantan. Behind these recurring fires lies an unresolved issue: land governance, the accountability of permit holders, and the protection of communities who bear the consequences.
The Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Indonesia Coalition – Kalimantan Regional Chapter considers forest and land fires to be more than just a consequence of the dry season. Recurring fires point to deeper problems in land governance, weak oversight of permits, and inconsistent law enforcement.
These concerns were raised during an online media discussion entitled “A Decade of the Paris Agreement: Demanding Accountability for Forest and Land Fires, Evaluating Government Performance and Climate Commitments in Kalimantan” on Sunday (25 October 2026).
Buyung Marajo, Coordinator of Pokja 30 East Kalimantan, reported that approximately 16,865 hectares of land had burned in East Kalimantan throughout 2026. Citing records from the People’s Safety Advocacy Team (Tim Advokasi Keselamatan Rakyat), around 69 percent, or 11,600 hectares, of the burned area was located within concessions held by 172 companies.
According to Buyung, these figures should prompt the government to investigate not only the locations of the fires but also land ownership and the compliance of companies operating in those areas.
At the same time, public health impacts continue to affect local communities. Data from the East Kalimantan Health Office recorded more than 228,000 cases of acute respiratory infections (ARI) across nine regencies and cities. The highest numbers were reported in Samarinda and Kutai Kartanegara.
Buyung cautioned that ARI can have various causes. However, the increase in cases occurring alongside deteriorating air quality due to forest and land fires must remain a serious concern.
“Managing this crisis cannot rely solely on firefighting, distributing basic food packages, or handing out masks. What is needed is a policy commitment that prioritizes public safety through prevention, transparency, and law enforcement,” he stressed.
According to Buyung, the government must guarantee access to basic services for affected communities, particularly vulnerable groups. Healthcare, education, clean water, sanitation, and social protection should not be sacrificed when regional fiscal space becomes increasingly constrained.
Pokja 30 also called for the disclosure of fire-related data, lists of companies whose concession areas have burned, environmental audits, and transparency in disaster-management budgets.
The Unaccounted Burden on Communities
Similar problems are evident in West Kalimantan. Arniyati, Manager of the Training & Learning Center at Gemawan, reported that the air quality index in Pontianak had reached approximately 400–500 over the past several days.
Since July, around 40,000 hectares of land have reportedly burned in the province. Fire hotspots have been concentrated in Ketapang and Kayong Utara Regencies.
According to Gemawan’s records, more than 70 percent of the fires occurred within concession areas, including land under Cultivation Rights Titles (HGU) that had not yet commenced operations.
Meanwhile, a study by CELIOS estimated that the economic losses caused by forest and land fires in West Kalimantan reached between IDR 5.4 trillion and IDR 5.6 trillion in just one month. This figure is close to the province’s annual regional budget (APBD).
However, the losses go beyond economic calculations. Residents must spend their own money to purchase masks and seek medical treatment. Children also face disruptions to their education when smoke exposure forces them to study from home.
“People cannot constantly be told to remain resilient and adapt. Children here now say there are three seasons: the dry season, the rainy season, and the haze season,” Arniyati said.
She also raised concerns about cuts to village funds in the name of budget efficiency. Such policies risk weakening support for Community Fire Awareness Groups (Masyarakat Peduli Api/MPA), which serve as one of the front lines of fire prevention at the village level.
For Gemawan, preventing forest and land fires requires more than simply imposing a ban on burning. The government must monitor land control, investigate every fire incident, trace suspected violations, and restore peatland ecosystems as well as compensate for the losses suffered by local communities.
Do Not Blame Traditional Farmers
Among, Director of the East Kalimantan PADI Association (Perkumpulan PADI), rejected narratives that place traditional farmers and Indigenous Peoples as the primary causes of forest and land fires.
He explained that traditional farming practices follow specific stages and customary rules, from land preparation to assessing wind direction and conducting controlled burning within limited areas.
“Current regulations must not become a red carpet for business interests and capitalists,” he said.
Nevertheless, Among acknowledged that burning practices carried out under the name of local communities should also be subject to scrutiny. Arniyati added that communities’ decisions to clear land must be understood within a broader economic context, including the fact that markets increasingly favour oil palm commodities.
Therefore, efforts to address forest and land fires should not stop at taking action against local residents. The government must examine the underlying structures of land control and ensure accountability among parties holding permits.
PADI, together with several other stakeholders, has also advocated for the inclusion of officially recognized Indigenous territories in East Kalimantan’s Provincial Spatial Plan (RTRW).
The PWYP Indonesia Coalition – Kalimantan Regional Chapter urges the government to disclose fire and licensing data, conduct audits of burned concession areas, and ensure consistent law enforcement. Protecting public health and providing support to communities at the village level must also form an integral part of forest and land fire management policies.
For the coalition, success should not be measured solely by how quickly fires are extinguished. The government must also demonstrate that future fires can be prevented and that communities will no longer be forced to bear the consequences repeatedly. (riz)
Source: Kaltim Post