Jakarta, April 30 -- Indonesia is moving early to reinforce its defenses against forest and land fires as signs of a prolonged dry season emerge sooner than usual, sharpening risks across the archipelago's most vulnerable landscapes.

The season has yet to peak, but its fingerprints are already visible. Soil moisture is falling, peatlands are drying, and rainfall has become increasingly scarce in several regions.

Forecasts point to what could be one of the lowest precipitation levels in three decades, extending the dry spell while intensifying pressure on forests and peat ecosystems.

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) expects the dry season to expand from mid-year and peak between July and September 2026, when muc...