September 'real battleground' for Indonesia in fight against forest fires as el Nino peaks

Indonesia faces its most critical battle against forest and land fires in September as the El Nino phenomenon reaches its peak, according to Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni. Despite a decline in fire hotspots following a month of intensified efforts, the country still grapples with significant risks. The 2015 El Nino serves as a benchmark, with this year's phenomenon expected to be of comparable strength.

However, about 202,004 hectares had been burned as of July, compared to 600,000 hectares over the same period in 2015. Raja Juli emphasized the importance of maintaining vigilance in September, stating that the threat of El Nino has not yet subsided. Five measures will remain central to the government's efforts: weather modification operations, water bombing, ground firefighting, law enforcement, and public awareness.

The government has deployed 53 air assets for various tasks, with assistance expected from Japan and Russia. Enforcement measures include the naming of 89 suspects in fire cases, processing of 30 criminal cases, and warnings to 52 forest utilisation business permits holders, six of whom received severe sanctions. Indonesia continues its efforts to minimize the impact of transboundary haze on neighboring countries.