PALMOILMAGAZINE, PEKANBARU – PT Astra Agro Lestari Tbk (AALI), through its business units in Riau Province, has reaffirmed its sustainability commitment to preventing forest and land fires by implementing a strict no-burning policy and strengthening peatland governance.
The commitment was highlighted through the company’s active participation in the Forest and Land Fire Prevention Readiness Roll Call held in Pekanbaru on Friday (25/4/2026), as part of broader efforts to strengthen coordination among stakeholders facing elevated fire risks during this year’s dry season.
Indonesia’s Minister of Environment, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, warned during the event that forest and land fire threats in 2026 must be addressed seriously. A prolonged dry season, combined with El Niño conditions and declining rainfall, is expected to heighten vulnerability, particularly in Riau, which contains extensive peatland areas.
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He noted that low rainfall and highly sensitive peat ecosystems significantly increase drought risks. Riau remains one of Indonesia’s most vulnerable provinces, with peatlands covering nearly half of its land area and more than 13,000 kilometers of canals spread across the region.
In response, Astra Agro is strengthening mitigation strategies centered on sustainable peatland management. The company views peat ecosystems as sensitive landscapes that must be managed in an integrated manner to preserve hydrological balance, minimize fire risks, and reduce long-term operational exposure.
Vice President of Corporate Communication at Astra Agro, Mochamad Husni, said the company has not opened any new land since 2015, either on peatland or mineral soils. Instead, the company has focused on responsible land governance supported by technical monitoring systems.
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“Monitoring results show that the condition of the TMAT in the operational area is in the ‘good’ category. This effort also reinforces the company’s commitment to sustainably preserving the ecological functions of peatlands,” said Husni in an official statement received by Palmoilmagazine.com on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
Beyond peatland governance, Astra Agro is also improving operational readiness across all business units. The company has intensified inspections of firefighting facilities and equipment, optimized watchtower operations, developed water reservoirs, conducted integrated patrols, and deployed hotspot monitoring technology to accelerate early detection and field response.
Management stated that prevention systems continue to be strengthened in a structured manner, covering infrastructure readiness, fire brigade training, and regular wildfire response simulations as part of a long-term mitigation strategy.
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As an additional preventive step, the company has carried out in-depth assessments in six districts categorized as fire-prone, taking into account landscape conditions, social factors, and historical hotspot trends.
Astra Agro is also expanding collaboration with stakeholders through integrated patrols, strengthening community fire awareness groups, and supporting government initiatives such as the Siak Hijau Regional Action Plan and the Pelalawan Cluster program.
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Through stronger peatland management, zero-burning implementation, and cross-sector cooperation, Astra Agro is reinforcing its role as a palm oil industry player actively contributing to reduced fire risks, environmental protection, and community safety across its operational areas. (P2)
