Kapolda of Riau, Irjen Pol Herry Heryawan and students participating in the Riau Student National Camping in the Rimbang Baling area.

progresifjaya.co.id, KAMPAR – Efforts to build collective awareness of the threat of forest and land fires (karhutla) in Riau continue to be strengthened through a collaborative, cross-sectoral approach.

Most recently, this approach was realized through the Riau Student National Camping event on Saturday and Sunday, April 25-26, 2026, in the Rimbang Baling area. This event was initiated by the Tumbuh Institute.

Themed “Together Realizing Green Policing, a Green Generation, and Preventing Forest and Land Fires,” the event was attended by approximately 150 students from Student Executive Boards (BEM) and Cipayung Plus organizations throughout Riau Province.

Head of Tumbuh Foundation, Azairus Adlu emphasized in his remarks, that this event was designed to be a forum for honest and reflective dialogue.

“Forest and land fires are not just about the environment. They are about health, the economy, and public trust in state governance. Therefore, we want to create a space where all parties can sit together, discuss, and build collective awareness,” he explained.

He also stated, that the threat to Riau’s future comes not only from forest and land fires, but also from the drug problem that is destroying the younger generation.

“Drugs destroy people, forest and land fires destroy people’s living spaces. Both stem from the same roots: greed and neglect. So fighting drugs means protecting people, and fighting forest and land fires means protecting the future,” Azairus emphasized.

Furthermore, he said, students hold a strategic position as drivers of change. He continued, explaining that students possess critical thinking skills, social influence, and access to knowledge.

“Therefore, student involvement should no longer be sporadic, but must become an organized and sustainable movement,” he added.

The event culminated on Saturday evening with a national bonfire session featuring Kapolda of  Riau, Irjen Pol Herry Heryawan, Tumbuh Institute Founder Rocky Gerung, and human rights activist Hurriah.

Kapolda of Riau, Irjen Pol Herry Heryawan, delivering his remarks at the Riau Student National Camping in the Rimbang Baling area.

At the national bonfire, the Kapolda of Riau also explained the importance of building collective awareness and changing mindsets in addressing the threats of forest and land fires and drugs.

He also warned, that Riau could potentially face a major forest and land fire cycle, as occurred in 1997, necessitating the preparedness and involvement of all parties.

“Problems like forest and land fires and drugs cannot be resolved by the government or the police alone. There must be collaboration, from upstream through education to downstream through law enforcement,” said Kapolda Irjen Pol Herry.

He also emphasized the Polri’s commitment to eradicating drugs, including zero tolerance for the involvement of police officers in such networks.

Meanwhile, Rocky Gerung placed the issue of forest and land fires in a broader context. He described them as part of a global ecological crisis that threatens the future of civilization.

Therefore, he emphasized, that environmental issues such as forest and land fires can no longer be viewed in isolation. Instead, they must be understood as part of an interconnected global system.

“We’re not just talking about Riau or Indonesia, but about the future of the earth. This earth is the only ‘ship’ we have, and all humans are passengers,” said Rocky Gerung.

According to him, students play a crucial role as intellectual buffers in facing multidimensional crises, ranging from economic and energy to ecological ones.

Meanwhile, human rights activist Hurriah also emphasized, that forest and land fires must be viewed as a human rights issue because they directly relate to the community’s right to a healthy environment.

“Forest and land fires are not just natural disasters, but crises that are continually manufactured and ultimately normalized. This means our right to clean air is being revoked,” Hurriah explained.

Therefore, she encouraged students to strengthen the movement’s foundation through research and policy advocacy, not just symbolic actions.

“Without data, the movement will be easily defeated. Students must be able to collect data, analyze it, and formulate policy recommendations,” she said.

The National Camping series included various activities designed to build participants’ comprehensive understanding.

In addition to the national bonfire, the event included technical discussion sessions on forest and land fires, featuring speakers from the Polda of Riau’s Directorate of Special Crimes, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the Riau Provincial Fire Department and Manggala Agni.

In this session, participants gained a firsthand overview of field conditions, law enforcement challenges, and forest and land fire mitigation efforts undertaken by various parties.

Furthermore, the activity continued with a focus group discussion on drug issues, involving speakers from the Polda of Riau Directorate of Community Development (Ditbinmas) and Directorate of Investigation Narcotics (Ditresnarkoba).

This forum provided an interactive space for students to express their views and understand the complexity of security and social issues in the region.

This activity is expected to foster a new awareness among students that the forest and land fire problem is a shared responsibility, while also encouraging the formation of a more solid student network in protecting the environment and the future of Riau.

Writer/Editor: Bembo