Ministry of Forestry Strengthens Fire Care Communities, Targets 500 Groups by 2026

GARISBUMI.com – The Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut) is strengthening community involvement in preventing and handling forest and land fires (karhutla). Of the target of developing 500 Sustainable Fire Care Community (MPA) groups by 2026, 119 groups have been formed and 61 groups are still in the process of being formed.

A total of 320 other villages have been designated as future development targets. Strengthening community groups is aimed at expanding patrols, speeding up reporting of fire threats, as well as supporting initial handling with Manggala Agni and related officers.

Deputy Minister of Forestry Rohmat Marzuki emphasized that community involvement must be accompanied by government assistance, equipment support and safety protection.

"The community knows the condition of their area and is an important partner in detecting the threat of fire early on. The Ministry of Forestry continues to strengthen work with MPA, Forest Farmer Groups, indigenous communities and volunteers, by prioritizing coordination and safety in every handling," said Rohmat in a statement from the Ministry of Forestry, Wednesday (21/10/2026).

Strengthen forest and land fire prevention at the village level

According to the Ministry of Forestry, as many as 14,040 MPA personnel in 34 provinces are involved in efforts to control forest and land fires. They help prevent the spread of fires, support firefighting, and protect forests and communities from the impacts of fire.

Through the Sustainable MPA program, strengthening is carried out by building group capabilities in recognizing fire risks, educating residents about land management without burning, and submitting early reports to officers.

With a composition of 30 people per group, the 119 groups that have been formed have a membership capacity of 3,570 people. Meanwhile, the target of 500 groups is equivalent to a capacity of 15,000 members. This figure is a calculation based on group composition, not the number of additional personnel that have been realized.