Thousands of hectares of forest on Mount Kawi are burning; what is the cause?
A PROFAUNA Indonesia team patrolling the Kawi Mountains encountered a fire in a pine forest on September 29, 2026. Dry undergrowth caused the fire to spread rapidly, consuming existing trees and shrubs.
The fire was immediately reported to Perhutani, the agency responsible for forest management. An hour later, a Perhutani team arrived at the scene alongside local residents. Working side-by-side with the PROFAUNA Indonesia team, they extinguished the flames using simple tools. The fire was finally put out that afternoon, around 3:00 PM WIB.
PROFAUNA Indonesia suspects the fire was deliberately set, as there were no natural factors that could have triggered it. It is believed the fire was started by someone intending to clear land for agriculture--unfortunately, using fire as the clearing method.
The fires in the Kawi mountain area have affected not only pine forests but also protected forest zones. Data from September 2026 indicates that the burned area has already exceeded 1,000 hectares.
Kelik Djatmiko, Administrator of Perum Perhutani KPH Malang, stated that as of Wednesday, September 16, 2026, the fire-affected area was recorded at approximately 1,050 hectares. The estimated burned area has since expanded to reach around 1,500 hectares. (Detik Jatim, September 20, 2026)
The Mount Kawi complex--also known as the "Sleeping Princess" (*Putri Tidur*) Mountains--comprises several peaks: Mount Panderman, Mount Buthak, Mount Kawinajang, Mount Pitrang, and Mount Kawi itself. The foothills and slopes of this mountain cluster span three regions: Blitar Regency to the west, Malang Regency to the east, and Batu City to the north.
Causes of Fires
Fires are generally caused by either human or natural factors. Natural causes include events such as volcanic eruptions and lightning strikes. Are the forest fires affecting Mount Arjuna and other regions caused by nature or humans? PROFAUNA believes that human activity--whether intentional or due to negligence--is the primary cause.
Regarding the forest fires on Mount Arjuna and the Kawi Mountains, the causes are largely human-related, such as land clearing for agriculture and campfires that were not fully extinguished. These campfires are typically lit by mountain climbers or illegal wildlife hunters.
Cigarette butts can also trigger fires, particularly when the land is very dry and winds are strong. PROFAUNA has conducted simulations demonstrating that a lit cigarette butt can indeed ignite dry grass or undergrowth.
For a long time, local communities have entered protected forest areas and pine forests--such as those on Mount Arjuna--to clear land for farming. They primarily grow vegetables like carrots, cabbage, potatoes, and chili peppers. Many of these forest farmers clear their plots by burning grass, shrubs, and trees. They often start these fires in the late afternoon and leave the site while the flames are still burning or smoldering.
Meanwhile, local communities around the Kawi Mountains mostly grow grass within the forest areas to serve as cattle fodder. Since this grass is planted between the trees, it generally does not kill the trees, unlike the practices of the vegetable farmers on Mount Arjuna.
Since 2021, PROFAUNA Indonesia has been active in the Mount Arjuna and Kawi Mountains regions. Its programs include assisting forest farmers in sustainable forest management and restoring degraded protected forests. Additionally, the organization is developing coffee-based agroforestry systems to replace vegetable farming.