Institutional dynamics of collaborative governance for forest fire mitigation in large scale palm oil enclaves in West Kalimantan Indonesia

Abstract

Forest and land fires remain a persistent sustainability challenge in Indonesia’s palm oil landscapes, particularly within enclave areas, community-managed lands located inside large-scale corporate concessions that are highly fire-prone during the dry season due to slash-and-burn practices. This study examines how collaborative governance among palm oil companies, local communities, village authorities, and government agencies contributes to fire mitigation in these enclaves. Drawing on qualitative case studies from two villages surrounding a major oil palm concession in Ketapang, West Kalimantan, the research integrates in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, field observations, document analysis, and GIS mapping. The findings show that collaborative arrangements, implemented through fire awareness campaigns, preparedness activities, joint monitoring, and coordinated firefighting, have reduced high-risk burning and limited fire spread across community lands and adjacent plantations. These processes were enabled by structured coordination, knowledge exchange, and resource sharing, while shaped by tensions between customary land-use practices and evolving environmental and regulatory conditions. Collaboration was further driven by interdependence in funding, equipment, legitimacy, and personnel, alongside external pressures such as market-based sustainability certification and state enforcement. The study highlights how collaborative governance can strengthen fire resilience and support more sustainable palm oil governance in the Global South.