This Assessment and Analysis Report on Forest and Land Fires (Karhutla) is expected to serve as a reference for various stakeholders in preventing forest and land fires in West Kalimantan.
Gemawan officially launched the report on the condition of forest and land fires across 14 villages in Mempawah and Sambas Regencies.
The report highlights field findings regarding the causes of fires, the level of community preparedness for mitigation, and strategic steps that can be implemented to strengthen the capacity of Fire Care Community Groups (MPA) as the front line of community-based forest and land fire prevention and response.
| Judul Buku: | Penilaian Risiko Kebakaran Hutan dan Lahan (Karhutla) dan Kapasitas Kelembagaan Masyarakat Peduli Api (MPA) di Kabupaten Mempawah dan Sambas |
| Penulis: | Hermawansyah, Mohammad Reza, Heru Suprihartanto |
| Penerbit: | Lembaga Pengembangan Masyarakat Swandiri (GEMAWAN) |
| Tebal Halaman: | 36 halaman |
| Ukuran Buku: | 14,8 x 21 cm |
| DOI: | 10.13140 |
Addressing the Threat of Forest Fires with Measurable Strategies
Gemawan’s Founder, Hermawansyah, emphasized that forest and land fires in West Kalimantan are not a new phenomenon.
“Every year, West Kalimantan experiences forest and land fires. We should no longer be satisfied with simply reacting quickly when fires occur. Instead, we need to design a more systematic and measurable approach,” he said.
From Gemawan’s experience in the Peatland and Mangrove Restoration Agency (BRGM) program, where the organization has been an implementing partner, it was found that the role of MPAs remains suboptimal. Therefore, Gemawan, in collaboration with the United States Forest Service (USFS), has taken the initiative to strengthen MPA capacity so that they are not only reactive during fire incidents but also better prepared with preventive and mitigation planning.
“MPAs should be the main pillar in preventing forest and land fires. They need proper equipment, updated fire hotspot maps, and effective water management strategies. For instance, they should be able to plan whether to build retention ponds, dig bore wells, or extend hose systems to ensure water access to fire-prone areas,” Hermawansyah explained.
Cross-Sector Collaboration to Prevent Forest and Land Fires
One of the key findings in the report is the importance of inter-village coordination and cross-sector collaboration in addressing fire incidents.
In Sambas Regency, for example, there is already an initiative to establish a cooperation forum among MPAs, which could serve as a model for wider collaboration.
“The role of local governments—at the district and provincial levels—as well as civil society organizations must be strengthened. Each actor has authority and resources that can be combined to ensure a more effective response to forest and land fires,” he added.
Hermawansyah also stressed the need for clear and measurable action plans.
“If our goal is zero tolerance for peatland fires, then there must be an incentive scheme for local communities and MPAs to ensure that they have both motivation and capacity to prevent fires,” he stated.
Government and Stakeholder Support
The FGD sessions received positive responses from local governments in both Mempawah and Sambas, who expressed support for the initiative.
The discussions resulted in several strategic recommendations, including:
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Strengthening MPA capacity through training, adequate equipment, and community-based mitigation strategies.
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Conducting periodic hotspot mapping and monitoring to improve fire prevention planning.
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Enhancing inter-village collaboration and cross-sector coordination so that fire management does not fall on only one or two parties.
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Developing a community-based fire prevention and control action plan involving local governments, NGOs, academia, and local communities.
This Assessment and Analysis Report on Forest and Land Fires is expected to serve as a key reference for stakeholders in preventing future fires in West Kalimantan.
“We must ensure that every strategy we design is not just a short-term response, but one that creates lasting and sustainable impact,” concluded Hermawansyah.
Full report can be accessed here: