Antara News·Indonesia·Friday, September 18, 2026 at 12:21 PM

Jember police warn of 15-year jail term for forest burning

Translate

Zumrotun S, Rahmad Nasution

Jember, E Java (ANTARA) - Jember police in East Java have warned that those who deliberately burn forests or land face criminal penalties, including up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to Rp10 billion (US$561,000).

Police have ordered precincts to install warning banners at strategic locations urging people not to carelessly light or leave fires in forest areas.

“We are intensifying mitigation efforts and patrols in forest areas to minimize the risk of forest and land fires,” Jember Police Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Alaiddin said in a statement on Friday.

Preventive measures have included joint patrols by Jelbuk precinct officers and state forestry company Perhutani in forest plots 73 and 74 in Panduman Village, Jelbuk Subdistrict, Jember District.

Police and Perhutani personnel monitored fire-prone areas and spoke directly with residents and farmers working around the forest.

“Officers urged residents to remain vigilant about activities that could trigger fires, as prolonged dry conditions have left forest vegetation dry and highly flammable,” he said.

He said preventing forest and land fires depended heavily on public awareness and active participation, requiring cooperation among all parties to reduce the risk of fires.

“Patrols are a concrete preventive measure. We urge everyone, especially those working near forests, to protect the environment and avoid actions that could trigger fires,” he said.

He said close cooperation among police, Perhutani, local governments and residents was essential to keeping forests safe throughout the current dry season.

Police also installed banners reading: “Stop forest and land fires. Burning forests and land is prohibited and punishable by imprisonment and fines under the law.”

Under Indonesia’s Forestry Law No. 41 of 1999, intentionally burning forests can carry up to 15 years in prison and a maximum fine of Rp5 billion (US$281,600). The Environmental Protection Law sets separate penalties.

Under Law No. 32 of 2009 on Environmental Protection and Management, land burning carries three to 10 years in prison and fines of Rp3 billion to Rp10 billion (US$168,000 to US$561,000).

Meanwhile, Jember’s Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) recorded 72 forest and land fires from May to mid-September 2026, including 10 forest fires and 62 land fires.

Jember's BPBD Head Edy Budi Susilo said the agency supported firm action against those who deliberately or unintentionally caused forest and land fires because of their harmful impact on residents.

“We fully support firm sanctions against those who burn forests and land. However, the BPBD Jember Office focuses on mitigation and prevention, especially during the current prolonged dry season,” he said.

View the original on Antara News →

KioskNews shows a cleaned-up reading view extracted from the publisher’s page — the original always lives on their site, not ours.