Pekanbaru, 24 April 2026 — GREEN for Riau held GREEN for Riau Webinar #1 titled “Forest and Land Fires in Riau: What Do We Need to Understand and Anticipate?” on Friday, 24 April 2026.
The webinar served as a public learning and communication platform that brought together perspectives on weather and climate, regional preparedness, science and technology, and collaborative practices at the site level to strengthen the prevention of forest and land fires, locally known as karhutla, in Riau Province.
The event featured four speakers: Warjono, S.Si., M.Kom., Head of the Sultan Syarif Kasim II Pekanbaru Meteorological Station; M. Edy Afrizal, S.E., M.H., Head of the Riau Provincial Disaster Management and Firefighting Agency (BPBDPK); Zulfan, M.Si., Head of the Pelalawan District BPBD and member of the Pelalawan Cluster Working Group; and Dr. Ati Dwi Nurhayati, S.Hut., M.Si., Forest Fire Prevention Expert for GREEN for Riau.
Forest and Land Fires as a Landscape and Climate Challenge
The webinar opened with remarks from Bambang Arifatmi, Country Coordinator of the UNEP UN-REDD Programme Indonesia. He emphasized that forest and land fires are not isolated incidents, but are closely linked to landscape and peatland ecosystem management, economic pressures, and the impacts of climate change.
For this reason, forest and land fire management needs to be systematic, data-based, and oriented toward long-term prevention. Bambang also encouraged a shift from emergency response toward prevention through sustainable land use, capacity strengthening at the site level, private sector engagement, and active community participation.
Representing the Acting Head of the Riau Provincial Environment and Forestry Agency, Dr. Matnuril, S.IP., M.Si., M.H., officially opened the webinar. He stated that the forum was relevant to GREEN for Riau’s efforts to reduce deforestation and forest degradation, which are closely connected to forest and land fires.
He emphasized the importance of regular patrols, early detection, peatland management, and intensive coordination among government, permit holders, the private sector, communities, and other stakeholders.
Understanding Climate Risks and the Dry Season in Riau
In the first session, Warjono presented the seasonal characteristics of Riau and the influence of climate dynamics on forest and land fire risks. He explained that Riau has different seasonal patterns across its regions, meaning that anticipatory measures need to be adapted to local conditions.
BMKG projected the potential for El Niño to be in the weak to moderate category, but vigilance still needs to be strengthened.
“Our dry season this year is coming earlier and lasting longer,” he said.
According to Warjono, conditions in 2026 are expected to be drier than in 2023, although not as dry as those experienced in 2015 and 2019. This information is important so that local governments and stakeholders can strengthen preparedness before fire risks increase.
Regional Preparedness and Shared Responsibility
M. Edy Afrizal then reviewed the forest and land fire situation, preparedness challenges, and the shared role of stakeholders in prevention at the provincial level. He stated that 10 of Riau’s 12 districts and municipalities had declared emergency alert status for forest and land fires.
His presentation highlighted the need for personnel and equipment readiness, stronger coordination, hotspot monitoring, and community involvement through patrols, field inspections, and dissemination of early warning information.
He also reminded participants that land clearing by burning is still perceived by some parties as an easy, cheap, and fast method. Therefore, education and alternatives to land clearing without burning need to be continuously strengthened.
Lessons from the Forest and Land Fire Cluster in Pelalawan
From the site-level perspective, Zulfan shared Pelalawan District’s experience in implementing an integrated forest and land fire control cluster.
“In Pelalawan District, an integrated forest and land fire management cluster has now been established,” he explained.
The cluster involves government, private sector, and community actors, with responsibilities divided by zones to support joint prevention and control efforts.
Zulfan also shared several challenges, particularly related to activity financing and the less-than-optimal participation of some cluster members. The experience from Pelalawan shows that forest and land fire control requires strong coordination, resource support, and sustained commitment from all parties.
Science, Technology, and Early Warning Systems
Closing the presentation session, Dr. Ati Dwi Nurhayati explained the use of technology and science in forest and land fire control in anticipation of El Niño. Historical fire data from 2016 to 2024 was analyzed to map vulnerability and determine strategic priorities.
According to her, forest and land fire control must integrate early warning systems, water and peatland management, community capacity building, incentives for sustainable practices, and collaborative governance.
Integrated fire management also requires systematic planning, institutional coordination, and adequate financing support so that prevention strategies can be effectively implemented on the ground.
Translating Climate Information into Action at the Site Level
The discussion with participants reflected broad concern over forest and land fire prevention, ranging from inter-agency coordination and peatland mitigation to cluster financing and strengthening the role of communities and the private sector.
The exchange of ideas reaffirmed that climate information and early warnings must be translated into concrete action at the village level and in fire-prone areas.
Through this webinar, GREEN for Riau encouraged a shared understanding that forest and land fires are not merely seasonal events, but a collective challenge linked to landscape management, ecosystem resilience, community protection, and emission reductions from the land-based sector.
Collaboration among government, the private sector, academia, civil society organizations, local communities, and development partners is an important foundation for strengthening forest and land fire prevention and supporting the implementation of jurisdictional REDD+ in Riau Province.