Forestry reform urged as wildfire threatens health, ecosystem
The plan to revise the 1999 Forestry Law may fail to address decades-long poor governance in the sector that has resulted in wildfires in large parts of Sumatra, Kalimantan and Papua throughout this year’s dry season, civil groups say.
Indonesia's forestry sector is facing criticism for poor governance, which has contributed to a surge in wildfires across Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Papua during the country's dry season. Civil society groups are calling for a revision of the 1999 Forestry Law to address decades-long issues and prevent future disasters. In recent weeks alone, forest and land fires have ravaged 202,000 hectares of land, causing hazardous haze that has impacted the health of millions across the affected regions.
According to the Health Ministry, over 3.4 million people in Kalimantan, Sumatra, and Papua have been affected by the haze as of Monday. In Riau province, where 16,000 hectares have been burned, more than 260,000 people have reported respiratory issues since January, with emergency room visits spiking in recent weeks. Despite this crisis, the House of Representatives has approved a revision to the 1999 Forestry Law, marking the beginning of formal discussions on the proposed changes.
The new bill will revise 26 of the original 84 articles and introduce two new chapters focusing on financing and data management.
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