2 jam yang lalu
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia is stepping up preparedness measures to anticipate the potential impact of the El Nino weather phenomenon and a prolonged dry season later this year, Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said during the 21st session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF21) at the United Nations headquarters in New York earlier this week.
“This year we must be far more cautious. The possibility of a longer dry season due to El Niño requires heightened vigilance from all of us,” Raja Juli Antoni said in a statement received in Jakarta on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.
According to the minister, weather data analysis indicates that a low- to moderate-intensity El Niño phenomenon is expected to emerge in June 2026, potentially triggering a longer-than-usual dry season across parts of Indonesia.
He urged all government agencies and related partners not to lower their guard and to intensify patrols and monitoring in areas vulnerable to forest and land fires.
“I have instructed all relevant institutions and partners to remain alert and continue increasing patrols and monitoring in fire-prone regions,” he said.
During the UNFF21 meeting, Raja Juli Antoni also highlighted Indonesia’s progress in controlling forest and land fires, known locally as karhutla. He said the achievement reflected President Prabowo Subianto’s commitment to strengthening climate action through sustainable forest ecosystem protection.
The minister said Indonesia has reduced the area affected by forest and land fires by 86 percent over the past decade.
“This success is the result of strengthened integrated prevention and early warning systems, firm law enforcement, and community-based approaches at the grassroots level,” he said.
According to Raja Juli Antoni, the positive trend continued over the past year, with Indonesia recording a significant decline in forest and land fire areas between 2024 and 2025 compared to previous years.
He attributed the improvement to enhanced hotspot monitoring systems and rapid fire suppression efforts carried out by joint response teams on the ground.
The minister emphasized that reducing forest and land fires cannot be achieved solely by the central government, but requires close cooperation among local communities, law enforcement authorities, and other stakeholders to ensure prevention measures are implemented effectively from an early stage.
“Collaboration and preparedness are key. We must ensure that forest and land fire numbers continue to decline in order to protect forest sustainability and maintain healthy air quality for the public,” he said.
Read: Sunny Afternoon in Jakarta: What's the Weather Forecast for Tonight?
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Historic Super El Nino Could Trigger Global Weather Chaos
9 jam lalu
A developing El Nino pattern in Pacific Ocean is expected to become one of the world's biggest weather stories heading into the second half of 2026.
WMO Warns El Nino Could Develop as Early as May
4 hari lalu
WMO states that it does not recognize the term 'super-El Nino' but acknowledges that temperature anomalies are rapidly occurring in the Pacific Ocean.
Super El Nino Expected to Form in Later Half of 2026, Researcher Says
9 hari lalu
BRIN Researcher shares updates on the formation of El NIno, which is expected to strengthen by the end of this year.
Banyuwangi Maps 11 Districts Prone to El Nino Drought
16 hari lalu
The Banyuwangi BPBD has mapped 11 sub-districts vulnerable to drought as El Nino triggers a prolonged dry season.
Sunny Days Ahead: Is El Nino Finally Here?
19 hari lalu
Unlike El Nino, the Australian monsoon winds are predicted to continue to strengthen over the next week in Indonesia.
Fending Off the Blaze in Limbung
20 hari lalu
Forest and land fires spread across 22 provinces. Chaotic governance has raised the risks ahead of the arrival of El Nino.
A Temperature Anomaly Between Two Oceans
21 hari lalu
El Nino is not the only factor increasing the risk of hydrometeorological disasters this year.
Australia on Alert as Super El Nino Threat Looms in 2026
21 hari lalu
Said to be strongest in 140 years, a "super" El Nino threat looms over the Pacific, especially in nearby countries like Australia.
Bare-bones Measures to Anticipate Forest Fires
23 hari lalu
Forest and land fires in several provinces spread as the El Nio climate pattern takes hold.
Indonesia Assures Food Stocks Safe Amid El Nino Threat
23 hari lalu
The Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman stated that the El Nino Godzilla phenomenon is predicted to hit Indonesia for six months.
English (US) · 
Indonesian (ID) ·