“What Is Karhutla? Causes of Forest Fires in Kalimantan Explained Simply”
Kalimantan forest fire happens almost every year. In Indonesia, people call it Karhutla. But what is Karhutla? Why does it always happen in Kalimantan? And why is it so dangerous?In this article, we will explain what Karhutla is and the main causes of forest fires in Kalimantan in simple English.What Is Karhutla?Karhutla is short for Kebakaran Hutan dan Lahan. In English it means Forest and Land Fires.
It is not just a normal forest fire. Karhutla in Indonesia includes two types of fire:
1. Surface fire on top of the ground that burns trees and bushes.
2. Underground fire that burns inside peatland.
Why Kalimantan Is the Center of Karhutla?Kalimantan is the Indonesian part of Borneo island. It is the epicenter of the crisis. In 2026, West Kalimantan recorded the largest burned area, followed by Central Kalimantan.
The reason is peatland. Indonesia holds about 36 percent of the world’s tropical peatlands. Most of that peatland is in Kalimantan.
Peatland is soil made from dead plants that is very wet. When it is wet, it is safe. But when it becomes dry, it becomes like charcoal. It is very easy to burn and can burn for weeks or even months under the ground. You cannot see the fire, only the smoke.
When peat burns, it produces 3 times more fine smoke, 5 times more sulfur dioxide, and 2 times more carbon monoxide than a normal forest fire. That is why the haze from Kalimantan can go to Malaysia and Singapore.
5 Main Causes of Forest Fires in Kalimantan.
Many people think Karhutla is a natural disaster. But research shows it is 99% caused by human activity. Natural factors only make it worse.
Here are the 5 main causes:
1. Land Clearing by Burning (The Cheapest Way)
This is the biggest cause. Some farmers and companies still clear land by burning because it is cheap and fast. They want to open new land for palm oil plantation or farming.They burn small bushes, but the fire spreads to the forest and peatland. In January 2023, a fire in Batu Ampar, West Kalimantan was caused by burning forest to clear agricultural land. This traditional habit is still common.
2. Peatland Drainage and Canals
This is a hidden cause. To make palm oil plantations, companies build canals to drain water from peatland. This is called canalization.When water is drained, the water table goes down and the peat becomes dry and degraded. Dry peat is hyper-flammable. Even a small cigarette can start a huge fire that goes underground. This is why Kalimantan, which used to be wetland, becomes wasteland easily during dry season.
- El Niño and Long Dry Season
El Niño is a weather phenomenon that makes the dry season longer and hotter. In 2026, Indonesia had a very strong El Niño. By early August 2026, 76.5% of Indonesia had entered the dry season. devpolicy.orgWhen it does not rain for months, vegetation and peat become very dry. Research shows that El Niño and land-clearing together explain most of the fires every year
- Weak Law Enforcement and Corporate Activity
Not all fires are from small farmers. In 2026, WALHI recorded 6,902 hotspots across Indonesia in just one week, and 5,201 were in Kalimantan. Almost half of them were inside corporate forestry and oil palm concessions. medium.comThe government named 138 suspects from around 200 fire cases in September 2026, most for deliberate burning. Weak enforcement makes people not afraid to burn.
- Human Negligence
Small things also cause big fires. Throwing cigarette butts, burning trash, or not putting out a small fire after cooking in the forest can trigger Karhutla. In dry peatland, a small spark is enough
The impact is huge:a) Health Problem: Thick haze causes breathing problems. In 2026, thick haze disrupted flights and increased respiratory risks for children while schools stayed open. Many people get ISPA (Acute Respiratory Infection).
b) Economic Loss: In 2015, the World Bank estimated fires cost Indonesia USD 16.1 billion. Flights are canceled, schools are closed, and businesses stop.
c) Environmental Damage: Fire destroys protection forests, conservation forests, and Key Biodiversity Areas. Animals like orangutans lose their homes. In West Kalimantan in September 2026, 18 orangutans were rescued, one was severely burned.
