Road to RBR 2026: Riau Police Chief Invites Public to Run Against Forest Fires and Protect Ecosystem
The Riau Bhayangkara Run 2026, organised by the Riau Regional Police ahead of the 80th Bhayangkara Day, is set to commence. Billed as the largest running event in Sumatra, it is not merely about running but serves as a momentum to combat forest and land fires (karhutla) while safeguarding nature and the ecosystem in Bumi Lancang Kuning.
In the agenda leading up to the Riau Bhayangkara Run 2026, Riau Police Chief Inspector General Herry Heryawan emphasised that every stride in the event carries a major mission: uniting the commitment of all elements of society to collaborate against forest and land fires and to preserve Riau’s endemic wildlife.
The year 2026 is predicted to pose severe challenges for the environmental sector. According to data from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Riau is entering a 30-year extreme weather cycle, a phenomenon last experienced by Indonesia in 1997.
Addressing this real threat, the Riau Police Chief invited the public to shift their mindset in preserving nature through a positive campaign at the Riau Bhayangkara Run.
"By running, we want to echo the message that protecting nature and the environment is our shared responsibility. We synchronise our steps and close ranks to instil collaborative efforts. This is a step to change the mindset of the entire Riau Province community so they always protect nature, maintain the ecosystem, including protecting our wildlife such as Sumatran elephants and tigers," said Inspector General Herry Heryawan in Pekanbaru on Sunday (21/6/2026).
There are three key points of focus for the Riau Police in the Road To Riau Bhayangkara Run 2026. The first is inviting all elements of society to collaborate against forest fires by making the sports event an educational platform so that all layers of the community, the private sector, and government agencies are ready to move together in early prevention and handling if hotspots appear.
The activity also serves as education for wildlife conservation in Riau. On this occasion, the Police Chief also campaigned for the protection of habitats for elephants, tigers, and other fauna in Riau to prevent them from the impacts of forest damage due to fires or poaching.
Interestingly, this year’s Riau Bhayangkara Run recorded extraordinary participation from disabled friends who joined to enliven the running route. Responding to aspirations regarding the creation of a special category for disabled participants, the Riau Police Chief provided an explanation along with his commitment for the future.
Given the limited preparation time and the need for standardisation of special safe tracks or facilities for disabled runners, the special category cannot be fully formalised at RBR 2026.
"For disabled friends who have registered, please join us in running on the general route. There will be mutual supervision from the committee and other participants because they are a priority. God willing, special facilities and tracks for disabled participants will be thoroughly prepared for next year," explained the Riau Police Chief.
At the end of his address, the Riau Police Chief appreciated the hard work of the committee team, including Police Grand Commissioner Manang Soebeti as the Chair of the RBR 2026 Committee, as well as all involved elements of society. It is hoped that through concrete steps and collective prayers, Riau Province can safely navigate the year 2026 free from haze disasters.
Also present at the event were Riau Deputy Police Chief Brigadier General Hengki Haryadi and all principal officials of the Riau Police. Also in attendance was Member of Commission I of the House of Representatives from the Nasdem Party faction, Cindy Monica Salsabila Setiawan.