Minister of Forestry: Peatland Management Practices in Riau to Serve as Reference for BPGMN

The Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni, stated that the peatland management practices implemented by communities in Riau will serve as a primary reference in the preparations for the establishment of the National Peatland and Mangrove Management Agency (BPGMN).

In a statement received in Nageke ES, East Nusa Tenggara, on Wednesday, Minister Raja Antoni noted that the formation of this agency is a follow-up to President Prabowo Subianto’s decision after considering input from scientists and academics. He emphasised that peatland management must be conducted seriously using a research-based approach.

Furthermore, the Minister described the peatland management site in Tanjung Leban Village, Bengkalis, Riau, as a “living laboratory” that can serve as a learning hub for the new agency once it is established. He intends to learn from existing successes and subsequently replicate these methods in six other provinces.

He added that the practices in Tanjung Leban Village demonstrate the vital importance of collaboration between the government, researchers, local communities, and the private sector. One specific practice highlighted is peatland water management (water sharing) through canal blocking, which ensures community needs are met without allowing the peatland to dry out.

Previously, President Prabowo Subianto established the National Peatland and Mangrove Management Agency (BPGMN) to strengthen peatland management and prevent the recurrence of forest and land fires. Through the BPGMN, the government aims to promote integrated peatland management, ranging from prevention, mapping, and early detection to strengthening response capabilities during fire incidents.