InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA — Efforts to prevent forest and land fires (karhutla) in Indonesia are increasingly strengthened through collaborative steps in the business world. The Indonesian Palm Oil Plantation Association (GAPKI) and Indonesian Forestry Entrepreneurs Association (APHI) officially signed a memorandum of understanding or Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
GAPKI Chairman Eddy Martono emphasized that karhutla handling cannot be done separately. According to him, cross-sector collaboration is key to achieving the national target of fire-free land. “The business world can take a positive role in helping control karhutla,” he said in an official statement received by InfoSAWIT, Tuesday (October 21, 2025).
Eddy explained that this cooperation is a follow-up to the roadshow by Minister of Environment and Forestry (LHK) Hanif Faisol Nurofiq some time ago, who reviewed the readiness of the palm oil plantation sector in preventing land fires in various regions of Indonesia.
Through this partnership, GAPKI and APHI will synergize in community development, strengthening local capacity, and developing community-based karhutla prevention mechanisms. The joint program of these two organizations is expected to increase community awareness and ability in managing natural resources without burning.
One concrete step from this cooperation is the formation of Fire-Care Villages and Fire-Care Farmer Groups as cross-sector pilot projects. This program will serve as a forum for development, education, and training for communities around forests and plantations to prevent fires early on.
APHI Chairman Soewarso added that this cooperation not only focuses on education and community economic empowerment aspects but also leads to strengthening technology and innovation. “Through this MoU, we will build coordination mechanisms, joint patrols, and rapid response systems to karhutla threats,” he emphasized.
Furthermore, Soewarso explained that GAPKI and APHI will also collaborate in developing technology and infrastructure for karhutla control, including increasing human resource capacity at the field level.
The collaboration of these two major associations is expected to be a strategic step in strengthening synergy between the forestry and plantation sectors, and proving that the business world has a vital role in maintaining the environment and preventing ecological disasters. (T2)
