Gov’t and Dayak Costumary Communities Join Forces to Prevent Forest and Land Fires

President Prabowo Subianto Friday (08/28) received Panglima Jilah, also known as Pangalangok Jilah, the grand leader of Tariu Borneo Bangkule Rajakng (TBBR), a Dayak Kanayatn indigenous organization widely known as the Pasukan Merah (Red Force), at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta.

Panglima Jilah explained that the President supported efforts to speed up the containment of forest and land fires, including by deploying additional personnel and aerial resources.

“We discussed forest and land fires. He has helped us by deploying personnel to accelerate the response, which began about a week ago,” Panglima Jilah said in a press statement.

According to Panglima Jilah, the Government’s support for West Kalimantan province is not only limited to forest and land fire response but also on the needs of the people in the affected areas.

“The President has provided significant assistance, especially in West Kalimantan, including support for traditional houses, schools, scholarships, roads, infrastructure, hospitals, and the TNI (the Indonesian National Defense Forces)-Polri (the National Police),” he said.

On that occasion, Panglima Jilah also highlighted a recurring issue during forest and land fires: traditional farmers are often accused of causing the fires. According to him, Dayak farming practices differ in both method and location from commercial plantations, particularly with regard to peatlands.

“So, the farming and plantation seasons sometimes coincide, and traditional farmers end up being blamed. However, traditional farmers do not cultivate peatland; they farm on mineral soils,” he said.

Panglima Jilah also stated that customary communities play a crucial role in monitoring land-burning activities. He added that they are not only affected by the fires but they also actively monitor their respective areas.

“So, when we burn [our land], wherever our fields are cleared by fire, that is where we will monitor it,” he said.

Panglima Jilah further said that traditional farming had been practiced by the Dayak community long before plantations were developed in Kalimatan. He added that the Dayak people has a close relationship with nature and therefore consider environmental stewardship essential.

Panglima Jilah also explained that the customary communities conduct outreach and education efforts to prevent forest and land fires. The goal, he said, is to ensure people understand that land clearing by burning must not be done irresponsibly.

The meeting between the two figures underscores the importance of collaboration between the Government and customary communities in protecting Kalimantan.

Responding to forest and land fires response requires not only personnel and technology, but also the involvement of communities that have lived alongside the forests for generations and understand their local environment. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (FI/MEP)