The Legacy of Past Policies and Their Impact on Forest Fires in Kalimantan
Forest and land fires remain a major environmental challenge for Indonesia, especially in the Kalimantan region. Many experts are now highlighting how development policies from the past, particularly during the New Order era, have had long-term impacts on the current state of our forests.
During that period, the government opened up land on a large scale for various development and industrial projects. These activities caused severe environmental degradation in Kalimantan. Forests that should have served as natural protectors have now lost their function due to massive changes in land use.
This ecosystem damage has made the land more vulnerable to fires, especially during long dry seasons. Peatlands drained for industrial purposes have become highly flammable and difficult to extinguish. This creates a cycle of fires that repeats every year and has a detrimental impact on air quality in Indonesia.
This situation serves as an important lesson for future environmental management. Efforts toward land restoration and strict oversight of forest usage have become priorities to ensure that fire disasters do not continue to recur. The government and the public are now called upon to be wiser in preserving forest sustainability for a better future.