9 Forest and land fires (known in Indonesia as karhutla) are once again at the center of public attention. To understand how people view the situation this year, Jakpat surveyed 1,275 respondents across Indonesia. The findings reveal a largely shared view: this year’s fires are perceived as more serious than those of previous years. A Heavier Impact Than Before Three in four respondents (75%) said the impact of this year’s fires is much worse than in the past. A further 14% considered it about the same, 9% were unsure or not well informed, and only 2% judged it to be milder. The strongest sentiment came from Kalimantan, where 88% described the impact as much worse, compared with 73% in Eastern Indonesia. Who Is Seen as Most Responsible? When asked who bears the greatest responsibility for the fires that recur every year, 52% of respondents pointed to insufficiently firm government action. Plantation or mining companies followed at 22%, and weather factors such as El Nino or prolonged dry seasons at 20%. Smallholder farmers clearing land were named by 3%. The Solutions People Want In line with these views, stricter law enforcement against those who burn land was the most favored solution, chosen by 76% of respondents. Other measures included public education on clearing land without burning (49%), real-time hotspot monitoring technology (43%), peatland restoration (34%), and economic assistance for farmers so that they no longer need to burn land (25%). Conclusion The survey shows that people not only feel the effects of the fires firsthand but also hold clear expectations about how they should be addressed. Stricter law enforcement stands out as the most prominent demand across all respondent groups. Want to explore more consumer insights? Read our reports or create your own survey with Jakpat!
