Indonesia ends 2025 forest fire operations as risk subsides

 Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni announced that Indonesia’s 2025 forest and land fire control operations have officially concluded, though authorities remain on alert in several high-risk areas.

“Although two provinces have extended their wildfire alert status until November, overall, we can officially declare that the 2025 forest and land fire control operation has ended,” Antoni said during a press conference at the Ministry’s office here on Monday.

The two provinces—Riau and South Sumatra—have extended their alert periods until the end of November through gubernatorial decrees. The ministry will continue coordinating mitigation efforts in these regions.

Minister Antoni confirmed that while official control operations have ended, the government remains vigilant in six priority provinces: Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan.

As of 2025, the Ministry of Forestry recorded a total of 213,984 hectares affected by forest and land fires, down from 376,805 hectares in 2024.

The figure also marks a steep decline from 2.6 million hectares in 2015 and 1.6 million hectares in 2019.

Meanwhile, National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Chief Suharyanto said the smaller area affected this year indicates that forest and land fires are now under control.

He attributed the progress to effective coordination between ministries and agencies under the task force formed by the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs. The task force was dissolved two weeks ago.

“This year, BNPB deployed fewer resources—only 12 patrol helicopters and 18 water-bombing units—compared to more than 40 in 2023 and 2024,” Suharyanto added.