[OPINION] Rejecting Peatland Burning for a Safer Future
Peatland clearing by burning is still found today. This practice is often carried out for reasons of cost efficiency and expedited land clearing. However, from an environmental, health, and legal perspective, such actions cannot be justified under any circumstances. Peatland burning is a destructive act that has long-term consequences for the community and the country.
Therefore, the community and government must take a firm stand against this practice. Ecologically, peat is a very fragile ecosystem. Formed from the accumulation of organic matter over thousands of years, peat layers store large amounts of carbon and play a vital role in maintaining hydrological balance. When burned, fires not only burn on the surface but can spread to the underground layers and persist for weeks or even months.
This condition makes peatland fires much more difficult to control than those on mineral soils. The ecological impact is extremely destructive. Peat burning destroys flora and fauna habitats, eliminates biodiversity, and releases massive amounts of carbon emissions that contribute significantly to global warming. This damage is not only felt locally but also affects the regional and global climate.
The direct impact is also felt by the community. Every time a peat fire occurs, haze becomes an annual scourge. Thick smoke containing hazardous fine particles (PM2.5) causes a surge in cases of respiratory infections (ARI), asthma, bronchitis, and pneumonia.
At the peak of the haze crisis several years ago, schools had to close, economic activity halted, and flights were canceled. Drastically reduced visibility also increased the risk of traffic accidents. The impacts are not only short-term but can also lead to chronic diseases.
Economically, land burning, considered “cheap,” actually causes significant losses for the state. During years of major fire crises, national losses have reached hundreds of trillions of rupiah. This figure includes health care costs, environmental damage, transportation disruptions, reduced productivity, and lost investment opportunities.
The cost savings by the perpetrators of the burning are simply not commensurate with the national losses borne by the community.
From a legal perspective, Indonesia has strict regulations. Law Number 32 of 2009 concerning Environmental Protection and Management prohibits land clearing by burning, which carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years and a fine of up to IDR 10 billion.
The Forestry Law also imposes severe sanctions on perpetrators of burning, especially if it is done intentionally. Criminal liability applies not only to individuals but also to corporations. Supreme Court Regulation Number 13 of 2016 strengthens the criminalization mechanism for business entities. Meanwhile, Article 88 of the Environmental Management and Management Law stipulates strict liability, allowing companies to be prosecuted even if intent is difficult to prove.
Administrative sanctions in the form of freezing or revocation of business permits must be applied consistently to provide a deterrent effect.
Unfortunately, law enforcement often faces various challenges, ranging from weak evidence, limited oversight, to a lack of transparency. Therefore, publicizing the identities of violating companies is essential as a measure of public accountability.
This action is crucial to exert social pressure and increase public trust in law enforcement.
Ultimately, clearing peatland by burning has no justification whatsoever. Its damaging environmental impacts, health threats, and economic losses make this practice a real threat to the nation’s future. Protecting peatlands means protecting the lives of future generations.
Strict law enforcement and consistent prevention efforts are key to freeing Indonesia from recurring haze disasters and environmental damage. Burning peatlands not only burns forests but also our future.
By: Aisya Az Zahra, Student of the Faculty of Law, ULM
Published in the Barito Post newspaper, December 2, 2025 edition
