Hutan Desa Mantaren I. Sumber foto: KPSHK.
Ancaman kebakaran hutan dan lahan (karhutla) masih menghantui wilayah Pulang Pisau pada 2025. Data Badan Penanggulangan Bencana Daerah (BPBD) Kalimantan Tengah per 4 Agustus mencatat 1.317 titik panas dengan 326 kejadian kebakaran, yang telah menghanguskan sekitar 451 hektare lahan. Pulang Pisau menjadi salah satu daerah rawan karena sebagian besar kawasannya berupa lahan gambut yang mudah terbakar saat kemarau.
Meski begitu, berbagai langkah pencegahan terus dilakukan. Gubernur Kalimantan Tengah menekankan pentingnya patroli lapangan, pendirian posko, serta penyuluhan masyarakat sebagai upaya yang terbukti menekan penyebaran api di kawasan rawan, terutama di Pulang Pisau. Pernyataan ini disampaikan dalam Rapat Koordinasi Penanggulangan Karhutla yang digelar di Aula Jayang Tingang, Kantor Gubernur Kalteng, pada 7 Agustus 2025.
Masyarakat Desa Mantaren I merasakan langsung kerentanan terhadap karhutla. Lahan gambut di sekitar desa kering cepat ketika musim kemarau dan sulit dipulihkan jika terbakar. Pengalaman besar kebakaran pada 2015 menjadi pengingat agar warga lebih siaga. Kini, pengawasan dan kesiapsiagaan tidak hanya menjadi tanggung jawab pemerintah, tetapi juga melekat dalam kehidupan sehari-hari masyarakat.
Salah satu upaya nyata datang dari Konsorsium Pendukung Sistem Hutan Kerakyatan (KPSHK) yang membentuk Tim Darurat Karhutla (TDK). Tim ini aktif melakukan patroli, memberikan peringatan dini, serta menjaga kelembapan lahan agar tidak mudah terbakar. “Setiap musim kemarau, kami selalu bergerak ke titik-titik rawan. Begitu ada tanda lahan mengering, kami laporkan dan tindak lanjuti segera. Prinsip kami jelas, lebih baik mencegah api kecil daripada menunggu besar,” ungkap Sarianto, Komandan TDK KPSHK.
Kehadiran TDK membuat warga lebih tenang. Hingga akhir Agustus 2025, kondisi di Mantaren I terpantau aman dari kebakaran. Rangkaian patroli, dukungan masyarakat, serta respons cepat tim terbukti mampu menekan potensi api sekaligus menjaga hutan tetap lestari.
Hutan dan lahan gambut di Mantaren I memegang peran vital. Selain sebagai penyangga air dan penyimpan karbon, keberadaannya juga melindungi kesehatan masyarakat dari kabut asap serta menopang kehidupan sehari-hari. Karena itu, menjaga kawasan ini bukan hanya persoalan ekologi, tetapi juga kelangsungan hidup komunitas.
Kolaborasi berbagai pihak mulai dari Lembaga Pengelola Hutan Desa (LPHD), Masyarakat Peduli Api (MPA), Bhabinkamtibmas, Babinsa, tokoh adat, hingga organisasi lokal semakin dipererat. Edukasi, deteksi dini, hingga penguatan peran masyarakat menjadi bagian penting dari strategi.
Dengan kondisi yang terkendali hingga kini, Mantaren I menunjukkan bahwa sinergi dan kewaspadaan mampu membangun benteng hidup di tengah ancaman karhutla yang terus mengintai Pulang Pisau.
Penulis: Alma
Forests in Mantaren I Village. Photo credit: KPSHK.
The threat of forest and land fires (karhutla) continues to loom over the Pulang Pisau region in 2025. Data from the Central Kalimantan Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) as of August 4 recorded 1,317 hotspots and 326 fire incidents, which have scorched approximately 451 hectares of land. Pulang Pisau is one of the most vulnerable areas because a large portion of its landscape is peatland, which is highly susceptible to fire during the dry season.
Despite this, various prevention measures are ongoing. The Governor of Central Kalimantan has emphasized the importance of field patrols, establishing command posts, and community outreach as proven efforts to curb the spread of fires in high-risk areas, especially in Pulang Pisau. This statement was made during the Karhutla Mitigation Coordination Meeting held at the Jayang Tingang Hall, Kalteng Governor’s Office, on August 7, 2025.
The residents of Mantaren I Village have felt this vulnerability to karhutla directly. The peatlands surrounding the village dry out quickly during the dry season and are difficult to restore once burned. The massive fires of 2015 serve as a stark reminder for residents to be more vigilant. Today, monitoring and preparedness are no longer just the government’s responsibility; they are an integral part of community life.
One tangible effort comes from the Consortium for Supporting Community-Based Forest Systems (KPSHK), which has formed the Karhutla Emergency Team (TDK). This team actively conducts patrols, provides early warnings, and maintains the moisture of the land to prevent it from easily catching fire. “Every dry season, we move to high-risk spots. As soon as there are signs of the land drying up, we report it and follow up immediately. Our principle is clear: it’s better to prevent a small fire than to wait for a big one,” said Sarianto, Commander of the KPSHK TDK.
The presence of the TDK has made residents feel more at ease. As of the end of August 2025, the situation in Mantaren I has been monitored as safe from fires. The series of patrols, community support, and the team’s rapid response have proven effective in suppressing potential fires while keeping the forests preserved.
The forests and peatlands in Mantaren I play a vital role. In addition to acting as water buffers and carbon sinks, their existence also protects community health from haze and supports daily life. Therefore, preserving this area is not just an ecological matter but also a matter of community survival.
Collaboration among various parties from the Village Forest Management Institute (LPHD), the Fire-Care Community (MPA), Bhabinkamtibmas, Babinsa, traditional leaders, to local organizations is being strengthened. Education, early detection, and empowering the community’s role are all crucial parts of the strategy.
With the situation under control to date, Mantaren I shows that synergy and vigilance can build a living fortress against the ever-present threat of karhutla that continues to stalk Pulang Pisau.
Author: Alma
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