World · Singapore Bureau
Study reveals vast fire damage on Indonesian listed companies' lands
Nearly 2.88 million hectares of land owned by publicly listed Indonesian firms were destroyed by fire between January and October 2026, according to a new analysis. The findings raise fresh concerns about environmental accountability among major corporate landholders in the region.
LSN Singapore ·
A comprehensive study has documented significant fire damage across properties held by listed Indonesian companies during the first ten months of 2026, with total burnt area reaching 2.88 million hectares.
The scale of destruction underscores persistent challenges in land management and fire prevention across Indonesia's corporate sector, particularly among firms whose operations span agriculture, forestry, and related industries. The period from January through October typically encompasses Indonesia's dry season, when fire risks escalate substantially across the archipelago.
The findings add to growing scrutiny of environmental practices among major Indonesian corporations, particularly regarding their stewardship of extensive landholdings. Investors and regulators have increasingly pressed listed companies to strengthen fire management protocols and demonstrate compliance with environmental standards.
The study's results come amid broader regional concerns about transboundary haze and its impact on air quality across Southeast Asia. Indonesia has faced repeated international pressure to curb large-scale land fires that periodically affect neighboring countries including Singapore and Malaysia.
The research contributes to ongoing debates about corporate responsibility in Indonesia's natural resource sectors and the effectiveness of existing regulatory frameworks governing fire prevention on commercial properties.