President Prabowo Establishes New Agency BPGMN to Prevent Forest Fires

President Prabowo Subianto of Indonesia has decided to establish a new agency, the National Peat and Mangrove Management Agency (BPGMN), as part of the government's efforts to prevent the continuous occurrence of forest and land fires (karhutla). This announcement was made by Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni during a press conference at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on September 24, 2026. According to Minister Antoni, the primary objective of BPGMN is "prevention," emphasizing that "prevention is far more important, effective, and efficient than reactive actions." This signifies a shift from traditional approaches focused on post-fire suppression and restoration to more proactive preventive measures. The BPGMN will be an agency directly under President Prabowo, unlike the former Peat and Mangrove Restoration Agency (BRGM), which was under the Ministry of Forestry. This organizational restructuring aims to enable more swift and robust decision-making through direct presidential oversight. Sufficient budgetary support is also expected to ensure effective operations. The new agency is expected to be staffed by scientists and professionals in the fields of peat and mangrove. Special emphasis will be placed on fire prevention in six provinces with significant peatland areas: Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan. These regions have historically been sources of large-scale forest fires. Minister Antoni stated that the establishment of BPGMN reflects President Prabowo's open stance towards suggestions and criticisms from scientists. The President's sincere consideration of expert opinions, leading to the creation of this new agency, is seen as a serious commitment to addressing the karhutla issue.