Indonesia’s Forest Fires and Deforestation Decline in Past 10 Years, Says Government

Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar announced that Indonesia has seen a significant decline in forest fires and deforestation over the past decade. At a recent briefing in Jakarta, she highlighted that the area affected by forest fires dropped from 2.6 million hectares in 2015 to just 200,000 hectares in 2022, marking a substantial improvement in fire management.

Bakar explained that effective measures, including integrated prevention strategies like hotspot monitoring, weather modification, and community involvement, have contributed to this success. She noted that while wildfires can still occur, the response has become much quicker.

In terms of deforestation, Bakar reported a dramatic reduction from 1.09 million hectares between 2014 and 2015 to an estimated 100,000 hectares in 2023. Additionally, she mentioned progress in tackling plastic waste, with marine plastic waste decreasing from 438,000 tons in 2018 to 339,000 tons in 2023, thanks to efforts to implement a circular economy.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) is continuing its operations to manage forest and land fires in six priority provinces until November 2024, providing support such as aircraft and waterbombing services to enhance firefighting efforts.

Indonesia has made significant strides in reducing forest fires and deforestation over the past decade, according to Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar. The area affected by forest fires plummeted from 2.6 million hectares in 2015 to just 200,000 hectares in 2022, thanks to enhanced monitoring and community involvement in prevention efforts.

Deforestation rates have also dropped dramatically, from 1.09 million hectares in 2014-2015 to about 100,000 hectares in 2023. Furthermore, the country is tackling plastic waste, achieving a reduction in marine plastic from 438,000 tons in 2018 to 339,000 tons in 2023 through circular economy initiatives. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency continues to support fire management operations in six priority provinces until November 2024, ensuring effective response measures are in place.