Indonesia–Korea Strengthen Wildfire Management through Development of Forest and Land Fire Management Center in Ogan Komering Ilir

The Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Government of the Republic of Korea have strengthened their collaboration in efforts to control forest and land fires (karhutla) through the development of the “Forest and Land Fire Management Center” in South Sumatra (22 April 2026). The facility will soon be complemented by supporting accommodation facilities in the form of the Manggala Agni dormitory.

The construction of this dormitory is part of the implementation of a broader cooperation framework consisting of four main pillars: the development of a fire command and training center, capacity building for Manggala Agni, provision of supporting infrastructure and facilities, and the development of information and communication technology systems for early detection of forest and land fires.

Coinciding with Earth Day on 22 April 2026, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Manggala Agni dormitory was conducted. During the event, Director of Forest Fire Control, Thomas Nifinluri, stated that the BMKG Climate Outlook 2026 predicts that Indonesia will experience an earlier El Niño phenomenon in the second half of the year. Along with rising global temperatures, the potential for forest and land fires is expected to become more extensive, occur more frequently, and become more difficult to control. This situation calls for enhanced preparedness and the strengthening of more adaptive and integrated wildfire management strategies.

“Efforts to control forest and land fires cannot be carried out independently. They require strong and sustained collaboration, not only domestically but also internationally. This cooperation is important to encourage the exchange of knowledge, experience, and the utilization of technology in order to strengthen wildfire management capacity in a more effective and integrated manner,” said Thomas.

Thomas further noted that with the support of the Korea Forest Service, the Manggala Agni unit is being developed into a center of excellence for forest fire control in Indonesia. The development of the “Forest and Land Fire Management Center” is expected to deliver tangible benefits not only for Indonesia, but also for ASEAN countries and the wider international community.

Counsellor of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, Ha Kyung Soo, explained that the dormitory construction is part of strengthening supporting facilities to enhance Manggala Agni’s capacity, particularly within the framework of Korea–Indonesia cooperation in the forestry sector under the project “Development of Forest and Land Fire Management System in South Sumatra.”

“This facility is expected to support the effectiveness of training, coordination, and integrated and sustainable forest and land fire management operations,” he stated.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Manggala Agni dormitory was attended by representatives from the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, the Directorate of Forest Fire Control, the Regional Forest Fire Control Center of Sumatra, Manggala Agni Operations Unit XVII OKI, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Ogan Komering Ilir, local government officials, and KIFC.

The “Forest and Land Fire Management Center” has already been utilized for various training activities, including an international peatland fire management training organized by the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCo) held on 20–24 April 2026. Participants came from six countries: Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Cambodia, Timor-Leste, the Philippines, and Indonesia.