BPGMN Develops Sagara, an AI System to Detect Peatland Fires and Mangrove Damage
JAKARTA — Artificial intelligence (AI) technology will be used to detect peatland fires and damage to mangrove ecosystems at an early stage. The National Peatland and Mangrove Management Agency (BPGMN) is developing the Nusantara Peatland and Mangrove Analysis System (Sagara) to integrate data across agencies and help determine prevention and response measures based on conditions on the ground.
Sagara is being prepared as an integrated information centre for use by various parties in managing and protecting peatland and mangrove ecosystems. The system, whose design is still being refined, combines geospatial technology with AI to support decision-making.
BPGMN Deputy Head Major General Sriyanto said Sagara would be more than a digital map: it would also serve as a data and knowledge-sharing hub. The platform is expected to provide information on potential threats to ecosystems and support preventive action on the ground.
“Sagara will become a clearing house as well as a knowledge centre for managing peatland and mangrove ecosystems. The system will also serve as an early-warning system for fires on peatland and damage to mangrove ecosystems,” Sriyanto said in a statement on Saturday (31 October 2026).
Sriyanto explained that Sagara would process information on fire risk based on expert analysis and verified reports from the public. The data would then be used to draw up recommendations for prevention and response measures suited to conditions on the ground.
In addition to mapping potential threats, the system will analyse the availability of human resources and supporting infrastructure. The information collected will include the presence of local communities, Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police (Polri) personnel, as well as facilities that could be used to tackle fires or protect ecosystems.
“This will enable preventive measures to be designed more accurately and efficiently,” Sriyanto said.
Sagara’s development involves integrating data from several agencies, including the Ministry of Forestry, the Ministry of Environment, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). The integration is expected to make it easier to exchange information currently spread across different institutions.
Sagara is also planned to be openly accessible to the public and stakeholders. This access is expected to support transparency, performance evaluation and decision-making in the management of peatland and mangrove ecosystems.
“Our hope is that Sagara will not merely store data, but genuinely connect information with action. This will make peatland and mangrove protection and management across the country more effective, measurable and beneficial to the wider public,” Sriyanto said.
The design refinement was discussed at a meeting at the Swarna Dwipa Hotel in Palembang, chaired by Sriyanto. The meeting involved representatives from Sriwijaya University, the Ministry of Forestry, the Ministry of Environment, BMKG, the South Sumatra Provincial Government, regional leadership coordination forums and civil society organisations.
Through the system’s development, BPGMN aims to link environmental monitoring with the readiness of response resources on the ground. Sagara is expected to help accelerate peat-fire prevention and improve the effectiveness of mangrove-area protection.