Since January 2026, Pantau Gambut - a national CSO that works on fire monitoring - has detected 23,546 hotspots in peatland areas, which trigger potential toxic haze from burning forest and plantations. Pantau Gambut also revealed that many hotspots are located within palm oil and timber concessions.

The fire hotspots will also worsen livelihoods, since the projection of a long-lasting dry season this year, called Godzilla El Niño, will double the crisis, from clean water crises, crop failures, food insecurity and the acute respiratory syndrome for communities live near the hotspot areas. The article also mentioned one of the companies located in South Sumatra, PT Bumi Mekar Hijau, which, in 2025, Lebung Itam village in Ogan Komering Ilir often burns during the dry season since the timber company's logging activities in the area.

Pantau Gambut said the government should ensure concession holders take responsibility for restoring burned areas, so the cost of environmental damage does not fall on the state.

Business and Human Rights Centre invited PT Bumi Mekar Hijau to respond to the article. PT Bumi Mekar Hijau did not respond.