Strengthening Forest and Land Fire Management through Korea-Indonesia Cooperation Project in South Sumatra

The Republic of Korea and the Republic of Indonesia continue to strengthen their cooperation in the forestry sector through the cooperation project “Development of Forest and Land Fire Management System in South Sumatra, Indonesia”. The project was established in 2023 under a Letter of Arrangement (LoA) between the Korea Forest Service (KFS) and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (now Ministry of Forestry), and is implemented by the Korea Indonesia Forest Cooperation Center (KIFC). The project period is Feb 2023 to Dec 2026. The project was developed in response to the area’s high forest and land fire risk, particularly across its extensive peatland landscape, and the need to strengthen Manggala Agni’s operational capacity. The project is located in Manggala Agni Daops XVII OKI-Ogan Komering Ilir, South Sumatra.

Building on this robust foundation, bilateral ties reached a significant milestone in April 2026. A high-level signing between the Korea Forest Service (KFS) and Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry (MoFor) elevated the collaboration to the ministerial level. This event established a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and a Framework agreement for future projects. This strategic move strengthens cooperative ties and ensures a long-term commitment to sustainable forestry and environmental resilience between the Republic of Korea (RoK) and the Republic of Indonesia (RoI).

At the operational level, practical implementation remains a priority. The project recently opened a Basic Training on Forest Fire Suppression in OKI, highlighting the importance of collaboration among government institutions, international partners, and the private sector. Through KIFC, Korea continues to support the development of OKI’s forest fire management system. This support includes specialised facilities, knowledge exchange, and human resource capacity building, ensuring local responders are well equipped to face environmental challenges.

Trainings held in Ogan Komering Ilir, South Sumatra, as part of efforts to strengthen preparedness and human resource capacity in forest and land fire management. | Photo: KIFC

Ultimately, the newly developed Forest and Land Fire Management Center will serve as a pivotal hub, benefiting Manggala Agni personnel, local governments, communities and private-sector actors. By combining upgraded infrastructure, technology, and capacity building, the RoK-RoI partnership reflects a comprehensive approach to forest and land fire management. This strategy strengthens prevention and preparedness before fire occurs, while supporting faster and more coordinated responses during emergencies.