Fires and haze in Southeast Asia: from response to preparedness

At the 13th Singapore Dialogue on Sustainable Global Resources, the panel on “Fires and haze in Southeast Asia – Risks and preparedness” brought together a diverse group of stakeholders to examine one of the region’s most persistent environmental challenges.

The session was moderated by Simon Tay, President of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA), and Nirarta Samadhi, Country Director of the World Resources Institute (WRI) Indonesia. Speakers included Dr. Israr Albar, Senior Advisor at the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry, Bambang Hero Saharjo of IPB University, and Craig Tribolet, Director of Sustainability and External Affairs at APRIL.

Fire and haze remain a major problem and threat in the region, not only to companies managing large landscapes, but also to forests, communities and public health. A central theme was the need to fundamentally reframe how fire is understood.

“Indonesia is not a fire-prone environment…and yet here we are talking about fires in a tropical environment,” Craig said. Indonesia actually receives around 2,500 millimeters of rainfall each year, more than four times that of parts of Australia and significantly higher than many temperate climates.

This leads us to a clear conclusion: the fires in the region are not a natural phenomenon, but are largely man-made.

Understand the determining factors, without attributing culpability

The persistence of fires is closely linked to economic and practical realities. Around the world, fire is used to clear vegetation and reduce waste quickly and at low cost. As Craig explains: “Using fire is very cheap and incredibly effective. »

However, the discussion highlighted that the narrative needs to evolve. Blaming practitioners oversimplifies a complex problem. Instead, the focus should be on root causes such as cost pressures, land use practices and seasonal conditions. As Craig pointed out, the priority is “analyzing the data, understanding the key risks” rather than assigning blame.

At the same time, the human impact remains underestimated. “People who live closest to the smoke source are most affected,” Craig stressed, highlighting the disproportionate effects on vulnerable groups such as children, pregnant women and people with pre-existing health conditions.

Craig Tribolet, Director of Sustainability and External Affairs at APRIL, speaking at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs’ Sustainable Global Resources Dialogue.

Responsibility, investment and collaboration

Accountability has become a defining characteristic of fire management in Indonesia. “It doesn’t matter where the fire starts or how it’s caused…once it reaches our dealership, we’re responsible for it,” Craig said.

This has led to stronger operational discipline, particularly following regulatory reforms introduced after the 2015 haze crisis. Companies are now required to meet minimum standards, maintain their equipment and undergo regular audits. At the same time, APRIL has set up a a strict no-burning policy across its entire supply chainreinforcing its approach to responsible territorial management.

Long-term investment is equally essential. Fire management cannot be reactive or dependent on climatic cycles. “Fire management does not respond to climate signals…these are long-term investments,” Craig emphasized, emphasizing the need for sustainable capacity for prevention, monitoring, response and recovery year after year.

One of the most effective strategies has been community engagement. By working closely with local communities, companies have managed to significantly reduce the incidence of fires. As Craig explained, “This has been by far the best investment we’ve ever made in fire management,” with programs reduce burns by 90% in the last decade.

A central pillar is the Village Without Fire Programwhich works directly with local communities to discourage the use of fire through incentives, education and alternative land clearing methods. This program has been instrumental in reducing fire risk on a landscape scale by aligning community practices with sustainable land management.

At the same time, APRIL is investing massively in early detection and monitoring capabilities. This includes ground patrols and real-time monitoring systems that enable rapid identification of fire hazards. By integrating weather data and field observations, the company is able to take a proactive approach to fire prevention rather than relying on reactive measures. When fires occur, firefighting teams equipped with specialized machines and trained personnel are deployed. These teams operate alongside community fire teams, reinforcing a coordinated response model that combines professional capacity and local knowledge. This end-to-end approach – covering prevention, preparation, detection and suppression – reflects the level of sustained investment required to effectively manage fire risks over time.

Finally, collaboration within the ecosystem remains essential. Partnerships such as Alliance without fire highlight the importance of bringing together businesses, NGOs and a wider range of stakeholders. Involving participants beyond large organizations helps introduce diverse perspectives and encourages more innovative and comprehensive approaches to addressing fire management challenges.

The discussion highlighted a clear reality. Fires and haze in Southeast Asia are not inevitable, but they are complex. Addressing this requires a shift in mindset, from blame to understanding, from reaction to preparation, and from short-term solutions to sustainable collective action.

Discover APRIL’s fire prevention approach: Forest protection | Forest fire program | Fire Awareness Training | Haze prevention