Prabowo Orders Officials to Accelerate Reforestation: No Forest, No Water, No Life

President Prabowo Subianto discussed the importance of permaculture, an environmentally friendly design system for meeting human needs such as food and water. According to him, permaculture must be promoted, especially in areas that have already been deforested.

Prabowo conveyed this during a coordination meeting on earthquake disaster management in Nagekeo, East Nusa Tenggara, on Wednesday (26/8/2026). He began by stating that he had formed a team comprising the Defence University (Unhan), the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) to research ways to accelerate reforestation.

“I formed a team at that time, Unhan, Dikti and BRIN, to travel to several countries and learn how to accelerate reforestation,” said Prabowo.

Prabowo explained that the central government will build nurseries in every province and regency. The seeds will prioritise trees and plants considered productive.

“All open land, we will plant productive trees, and trees to secure water. Then on the mountains, we will implement what is called permaculture,” he said.

Prabowo said the results of permaculture can be enjoyed within the next 4-6 years. Within the next 10 years, he said, previously deforested land can be re-greened.

“Permaculture indeed cannot produce results in just 1-2 years, but if done carefully, within 4-6 years, it can retain and increase water in the ground,” he said.

“This is very important. I am confident that with permaculture, these deforested areas can become green again within 10 years. So later, provinces and regencies, in addition to agriculture, will also carry out reforestation, planting trees in very large numbers,” he continued.

In addition, Prabowo also spoke about the importance of educating the entire community, including children, about the dangers of land clearing. The people, he said, need to be reminded that trees are the source of life.

“Through education, starting from young people and schoolchildren, that they may no longer burn or cut down trees carelessly. Trees are the source of life,” said Prabowo.

“No tree, no forest. No forest, no water. No water, no life,” he concluded.