JurnalPost.com - Indonesia has not yet recovered. Forests continue to burn, communities are losing access to clean air, and one of the world's most important tropical forest regions is once again facing a grave threat.
The year 2026 has been a difficult period for the people of Indonesia. Various disasters have occurred one after another, ranging from floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions to forest and land fires (karhutla) that have struck several regions. Before the public could even recover from the impact of one disaster, another issue demanded attention.
Among these events, the forest and land fires in Kalimantan are among the most concerning. The fire not only consumes trees and peatland areas but also brings a haze that threatens health, disrupts community activities, and destroys wildlife habitats.
For some, forest fires may only appear as news reports about hotspots, the area of land burned, or firefighting operations. However, for the people living in the affected areas, the problem is far more tangible.
They must live amidst unhealthy air, limit outdoor activities, and face the constant worry that the fire could move closer to their homes.
This raises a question that can no longer be avoided: are these forest and land fires solely natural disasters, or are there issues with environmental management and human activity that cause them to recur?
When Peatlands Lose Their Ability to Protect Themselves
Since January 2026, several regions in Kalimantan have faced forest and land fires. This situation is increasingly difficult to handle because some areas are characterized by peatland.
Peat is not ordinary soil. This ecosystem is formed from layers of plant debris that have undergone a very slow decomposition process over thousands of years. In its natural state, peat has the ability to store large amounts of water, playing a crucial role in maintaining environmental balance.
However, when its hydrological condition is altered, especially due to land drainage, peat becomes far more susceptible to fire.
Dony Rachmanadi, a Senior Expert Researcher at the Research Center for Ecology of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), explains that peat fires are closely related to the disruption of water management.
When peatlands are drained, organic material that was previously submerged in water becomes highly flammable. The fire can even spread beneath the soil surface and persist for a long time.
Based on research he explained in October 2026, a single fire can reduce the peat's water-retention capacity by about 15 percent. If fires occur repeatedly, the damage to its hydrological function can become even more severe.
This means that peat fires are not just a matter of extinguishing the flames visible on the surface.
There is a more fundamental environmental issue: how peat areas are managed, how their water systems are maintained, and to what extent human activity has altered their natural state.
This damage makes the land increasingly difficult to recover and more prone to burning again when the dry season arrives.
Thousands of Hectares Burned, Communities Bear the Impact
The scale of the forest and land fire problem can be seen from data in several affected regions.
In East Kotawaringin Regency, Central Kalimantan, 1,316 forest and land fire incidents were recorded from January to October 6, 2026. The total area burned reached approximately 2,122 hectares.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported that the indicative area of land burned in West Kalimantan reached approximately 38,310.86 hectares as of September 28, 2026.
These figures are not just statistics appearing in disaster management reports.
Behind every hectare of burned land, there is environmental destruction, disruption to community life, and the potential loss of habitats for various wildlife species.
For residents in several affected areas, the haze has become a part of daily life that is difficult to avoid.
The sky, which usually looks blue, turns gray or even yellowish as the smoke thickens. Visibility decreases, the air feels stifling, and simple activities like traveling or being outdoors can become health hazards.
However, life does not simply stop.
Workers still have to earn a living. Traders still need income. Children need education, while families must meet their daily needs.
The community is forced to live normally in a situation that is actually far from normal.
Homes that should be places of refuge are not always able to protect their occupants from smoke particles entering through vents and building gaps.
When air quality worsens, the use of masks and the restriction of outdoor activities become necessary. However, these measures cannot replace the public's right to breathe clean air.
When the People Must Demand Their Right to Clean Air
Amidst the haze, the voices of the people asking for help are increasingly important to hear.
Residents express their complaints through social media, showing the condition of their environment and demanding that fire management be carried out more effectively.
For them, the issue of forest and land fires is not just about how many hotspots are successfully extinguished, but when life can return to safety.
The smoke crisis has prompted some members of the public to voice their demands more openly. In West Kalimantan, a group of residents even took legal action by suing several government officials and agencies, arguing that prevention and handling efforts were inadequate.
The lawsuit reflects a crisis of trust and a demand for accountability in environmental management.
The government has actually deployed joint personnel, ground firefighting operations, water-bombing helicopters, and weather modification technology to handle the fires.
However, the existence of these efforts does not immediately eliminate the suffering of the community as long as the fires and haze persist.
In my opinion, the success of disaster management should not be judged solely by the number of personnel deployed or the number of firefighting operations conducted.
Success must also be measured by the extent to which the community regains access to healthy air, children can go to school safely, and residents are no longer shadowed by the threat of fire near their homes.
Volunteers Struggle, Some Even Lose Their Lives
Amidst the spreading fires, the struggle of the volunteers is a part that must not be forgotten.
They go directly to the front lines, carrying firefighting equipment, navigating difficult terrain, and facing thick smoke to prevent the fires from spreading further.
Some volunteers come from community groups that voluntarily assist in disaster management.
However, this work carries great risks.
In 2026, sad news came from Central Kalimantan after several volunteer firefighters died while on duty.
In West Kotawaringin Regency, two volunteers named Ahmadin and Aries Sutio Lutfhil Hadi were reported to have died after being involved in handling forest and land fires. The government, through the Ministry of Forestry, subsequently provided assistance to their families as a form of appreciation for their service.
These losses show that behind the firefighting efforts, there are human beings risking their safety and lives.
Volunteers are not just numbers in a disaster management report.
They are family members, parents, partners, and part of a community that has a life outside of their humanitarian duties.
Therefore, protection for officers and volunteers must be a serious concern.
Adequate safety equipment, health support, logistical needs, and protection for families in the event of a tragedy are essential parts of disaster management.
We must not let those who fight to save the environment face great risks without proper protection.
Wildlife Also Loses Its Home
The damage caused by forest and land fires is not only felt by humans.
Kalimantan is one of the most important regions for global biodiversity. Its forest areas are habitats for various animals, including orangutans, proboscis monkeys, and various other types of birds and mammals.
When fires strike forest areas, wildlife also faces threats.
Some may lose their food sources and shelter. Animals unable to escape the fire risk injury or death, while those that manage to save themselves may be pushed out of their natural habitats.
This damage does not stop when the fire is extinguished.
Forests require a long time to recover. In fact, some parts of the ecosystem may never return to their previous state if the damage is too extensive and recurring.
This is where forest fires should be viewed as an ecological issue far greater than just the loss of vegetation cover.
When forests are damaged, the environmental balance is disrupted.
Humans may be able to rebuild burned houses, but restoring a forest and all the life within it is not a task that can be completed in a short time.
Kalimantan's Smoke Becomes a Transboundary Issue
Forest and land fires in Indonesia also have impacts that transcend national borders.
The haze carried by the wind can travel to neighboring countries.
In October 2026, air pollution from fires in Indonesia affected air quality in Malaysia and Singapore. The impact of the smoke also became a concern in Southeast Asia, including the disruption of educational activities in several regions.
This situation shows that the issue of forest and land fires cannot be considered a purely domestic affair.
Air does not recognize administrative or national borders. When fires occur on a large scale, the impact can be felt by communities living very far from the source of the fire.
The handling of this year's forest and land fires also received international support.
In September 2026, Japan sent three CH-47 Chinook helicopters to assist in firefighting operations in West Kalimantan.
In addition, the Ministry of Transportation has issued 35 permits for the use of foreign-registered aircraft for 11 air operator certificate holders from eight countries, covering 36 helicopters to support the handling of forest and land fires.
This step shows the massive need for resources in dealing with the ongoing fires.
However, international aid and firefighting operations should not be the only answer.
Prevention must receive as much attention as the response once the fire has already spread.
Burned or Burning, Who Is Responsible?
The title that Kalimantan is being burned, not just burning, is a form of criticism regarding environmental management issues and land-clearing practices.
However, this does not mean that every fire incident can be immediately concluded as an act of intentional burning.
The cause of each incident must still be proven through investigation.
Nevertheless, the fact that there are practices of land clearing by burning and violations in fire control shows that human factors cannot be separated from the issue of forest and land fires.
In August 2026, the Ministry of Forestry imposed administrative sanctions on six companies holding forest utilization permits after fires were found in their management areas, totaling 1,511.55 hectares.
These findings highlight the importance of oversight for companies and holders of area management permits.
Parties with the right to utilize forests also have an obligation to protect them, prevent damage, and ensure their business activities do not cause harm to the environment and the community.
Law enforcement is necessary so that similar problems do not continue to recur.
However, law enforcement must be based on evidence, not just suspicion or public anger.
In my opinion, criticism of forest and land fires should be directed toward finding the actual causes, improving land governance, strengthening oversight, and ensuring that every party fulfills their responsibilities.
Because allowing fires to recur without fixing the root causes will only lead to the community facing the same suffering in the following years.
How Long Must the People Breathe Smoke?
The 2026 forest and land fires serve as a reminder that environmental damage always has consequences for human life.
When forests burn, communities lose clean air. When peat is damaged, the ecological function of the region is disrupted. When animals lose their habitats, biodiversity faces an even greater threat.
Meanwhile, when fires continue to recur, the community must bear the impact, whether in the form of health problems, economic losses, or the disruption of daily activities.
Therefore, the handling of forest and land fires must not stop at the effort to extinguish the flames.
The government needs to strengthen peat protection, restore damaged areas, ensure that oversight of permit holders is effective, and provide protection to affected communities.
Companies must fulfill their environmental obligations, while the community also needs to stop land-clearing practices that risk causing uncontrollable fires.
Ultimately, what the community needs is not just a statement that the fires are being handled.
They need real change, sustainable protection, and the certainty that the right to live in a healthy environment is truly respected.
Kalimantan is not only valuable because of its vast forests or the natural wealth stored within it.
Kalimantan is home to millions of people, thousands of species of living things, and an ecosystem that plays an important role in environmental balance.
Too much is already at stake when fire continues to burn the region.
The people should not have to constantly ask for help just to get the most basic thing in life: air that is fit to breathe.
Therefore, the question is no longer just when the fire will be extinguished.
The more important question is how long we will allow the causes of these fires to persist, while the people, wildlife, and the environment must bear the consequences?
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