Environment Minister Strengthens Peat Canal Blocks in Pelalawan to Prevent Forest Fires

The Ministry of Environment/Environmental Control Agency (KLH/BPLH) is moving swiftly to strengthen the prevention of forest and land fires (karhutla) in the face of the dry season in Riau Province. Minister of Environment/Head of BPLH, Mohammad Jumhur Hidayat, stated that the government is integrating water management through the construction of peat canal blocks, restoration of buffer zones, and the establishment of an ecological culture within communities as a long-term solution for national peatland protection. “Pelalawan Regency is a national priority area for karhutla control because it has a very extensive peatland landscape within the Kampar River–Gaung River Peat Hydrological Unit. On Mendol Island and in Pulau Muda Village, we are collaborating with BNPB, the Ministry of Forestry, the Regional Government, the Police, businesses, and the community to ensure the peat ecosystem remains wet,” he said. This rewetting effort is urgent because, of the 13.36 million hectares of peatland in Indonesia, approximately 3.31 million hectares have been damaged and require planned restoration. Minister Jumhur emphasised that disciplined water governance is the main key to preventing karhutla. “My arrival here with BNPB and the Ministry of Forestry, with the Regent, and with the Regional Police Chief, is to show that this joint movement to inundate the land, as we are doing here by building canal blocks and creating dams to limit water flow so it can overflow into the surrounding area, is part of the effort to mitigate and reduce land fire disasters,” he said. To optimise protection, KLH/BPLH is implementing real-time groundwater monitoring and water-sharing practices to maintain peat moisture at the peak of the dry season. This step is urgent because, of the ideal requirement of 538,568 canal block units across seven vulnerable provinces, only about 45,430 units are currently available to secure 269,284 kilometres of canals. Responding to the shortage of canal blocks, KLH/BPLH is accelerating the construction of hydrological infrastructure and strengthening the 3R-based (Rewetting, Revegetation, Economic Revitalisation) Peat Care Independent Village Programme (DMPG) in 2,354 villages. Jumhur invited ministries, regional governments, the private sector, and the entire community to move together in the field. Real collaboration and collective awareness are the main keys to keeping the peat wet to prevent karhutla and protect public safety. Meanwhile, Marlizar, a representative of the Teluk Meranti Fire Care Community (MPA), affirmed the community’s readiness to remain vigilant and actively conduct field surveillance daily. “Yes, we are ready to support anything from the government or companies that can help overcome these fires. To address it, we conduct patrols with the community every day. We hope that with the Minister’s visit here, more canal blocks will be built because they are very important for preventing fires,” he concluded.