Prabowo Highlights Indonesia's Vast Peatlands in Fire Prevention Talks

President Prabowo Subianto engaged in discussions with 22 academics from various domestic and international research institutions and universities at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Thursday (24/9). The central theme of the meeting was the handling of forest and land fires (karhutla), with a particular focus on peatland fires. President Prabowo highlighted that Indonesia possesses a unique phenomenon compared to its neighboring countries: vast expanses of peatlands. He stressed the necessity of a comprehensive and tailored approach to address this significant environmental challenge. Cabinet Secretary (Seskab) Teddy Indra Wijaya conveyed that the academics were present at the Presidential Palace upon President Prabowo's invitation to engage in direct discussions concerning peatland management, drawing upon their respective areas of expertise. In a video uploaded to the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube account on Friday (25/9/2026), Teddy stated, "Mr. President, this Thursday afternoon, September 24, 2026, at your invitation, 22 academics from various universities, both domestic and international, have gathered at the Merdeka Palace to discuss directly with you the management of peatlands, which are prone to fires year after year." Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Mendiktisaintek), Brian Yuliarto, explained that the participating academics, professors, and researchers had previously attended an expert panel discussion. This preliminary discussion also involved several relevant ministries and agencies. "Following your directives last week, Mr. President, we identified academics, professors, and researchers who specialize in peatlands. We then also held discussions with the Minister of State Secretary and the Cabinet Secretary," Brian elaborated. In his opening remarks, President Prabowo emphasized that forest and land fires, especially those occurring on peatlands, are among the critical issues that require serious and immediate attention. "Distinguished professors, one of the challenges we face as a nation and a state is, among others, forest fires, and specifically forest fires that occur on peatlands. This is a recurring problem; we experience forest fires every year," the President stated. President Prabowo assessed that understanding the characteristics of peatlands is crucial for effective fire prevention efforts. He noted the extensive peatland areas in Indonesia, necessitating management strategies that are specifically adapted to these conditions. "There is a phenomenon where our neighbors also have forests, but perhaps they do not have peatlands as extensive as ours. Perhaps you, who are more knowledgeable, understand this better, which is why I have invited you all," he remarked, acknowledging the specialized knowledge of the academics. During the meeting, President Prabowo underscored the importance of strengthening institutional frameworks for the management of peatlands and mangroves. He proposed that the management of these two ecosystems requires a specialized body that would operate directly under the President. "We agree that we need this agency. It must exist – the National Peat and Mangrove Management Agency (BPGMN). It will not be under a ministry; it will report directly to the President. I agree with this," Prabowo concluded. Information Source: Detik