Antara News·Indonesia·Monday, August 31, 2026 at 09:59 AM

Indonesia closes nine national parks to hikes amid wildfire risks

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Prisca Triferna Violleta, Yashinta Difa

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni announced the temporary closure of hiking routes in nine national parks across Indonesia due to a high risk of forest and land fires.

In a statement following a coordination meeting on wildfire management in Palembang, South Sumatra, Monday, the minister stated that the decision aims to protect recreational hikers while maximizing firefighting operations in six priority provinces.

"There will be an official circular from the Director General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation (KSDAE), but I can announce the temporary closure of nine national parks," Raja Juli said.

He highlighted that outbreaks of fires inside national parks have added significant strain to ongoing containment efforts.

Aerial firefighting assets, particularly water-bombing helicopters designated for primary target zones, had to be redirected to contain widespread blazes inside protected areas.

"Because of extraordinary fires in several national parks, these helicopters were ultimately deployed there as well," Raja Juli explained, emphasizing that extinguishing blazes in terrain-heavy parks presents significant operational challenges.

He stressed that the temporary ban is a preventive safety measure rather than a permanent restriction on outdoor tourism, recalling a recent incident at Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park where spreading wildfires trapped approximately 170 hikers.

The temporary closure applies to hiking activities in Mount Semeru (Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park), Kerinci Seblat National Park, Mount Ciremai National Park, Tambora National Park, Manusela National Park, Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park, Mount Gede Pangrango National Park, Mount Leuser National Park, as well as Lorentz National Park specifically along the Ilaga, Tsinga, Sugapa, and Ugimba routes.

Meanwhile, limited hiking tourism under strict safety restrictions and designated safe zones remains open at Mount Rinjani National Park, Mount Merbabu National Park, the Hyang Highlands Wildlife Sanctuary (Mount Argopuro), and Mount Halimun Salak National Park.

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