Jakarta, Oct. 13 -- A member of Indonesia's House of Representatives, Selly Andriany Gantina, has urged the government to prioritize public health, safety, and wildlife protection in its ongoing efforts to combat forest and land fires.

Speaking Tuesday, Selly emphasized that wildfire response must extend beyond extinguishing flames to shield residents from hazardous smoke and preserve critical forest ecosystems.

"Fires destroy more than trees and land. Habitats disappear, food sources vanish and wildlife loses its living space. We must count burned hectares and assess ecosystem losses and restoration needs," Selly said.

Representing West Java's VIII electoral district, Selly urged officials to map vulnerable ecological zones, rescue tr...