Minister of Forestry: President Listens to Academic Input on Peatland Management

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Forestry Raja Antoni stated that President Prabowo Subianto is listening to input from scientists and academics in determining policies for peatland and mangrove management.

“President Prabowo Subianto has made decisions; he is a listener, as I mentioned earlier, listening to scientists to decide policy based on research and studies. Research is the best policy,” he said in a statement received in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Speaking during an inspection of the Peatland and Mangrove Restoration Discussion House in Bengkalis, Riau, today, the Minister of Forestry noted that the President’s decisions are based on research results and data provided by experts.

These decisions will be followed up with plans to establish the National Peatland and Mangrove Management Agency (BPGMN). This is due to the critical importance of peatland management in strengthening efforts to prevent forest and land fires (karhutla).

Following President Prabowo’s directives, Minister Raja Antoni stated that a workshop will be held with 22 experts, who were previously invited to the Palace, to prepare for the establishment of the agency.

These experts will work together to discuss the mandate, standard operating procedures (SOP), and the organisational structure of the BPGMN to ensure it operates effectively and efficiently.

In addition to the experts, the discussions will also involve mangrove specialists as well as policymakers from various ministries, agencies, and local governments.

The Minister added that the results of these discussions will serve as the basis for drafting a Presidential Regulation (Perpres) regarding the new agency.