Jakarta, Oct. 13 -- Indonesia's Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni reported that forest and land fires across the country have declined significantly this year.

"We are proud to report that the area affected by wildfires in 2025 has decreased from 2024," Antoni said at a press conference on forest and land fire control in Jakarta on Monday.

He credited President Prabowo Subianto's leadership for the improvement, citing the President's direct involvement in cabinet meetings on fire response, weather modification, and water-bombing efforts.

Data showed wildfires affected 213,984 hectares in 2025, down 43.2 percent from 376,805 hectares in 2024 and far lower than 1.6 million hectares in 2019. Peatland fires accounted for 24,212 hectares, ...