Indonesia is establishing the National Peatland and Mangrove Management Agency (BPGMN), a dedicated institution reporting directly to the President to tackle recurring forest and land fires across more than 33 million hectares of carbon-rich terrain. Announced on September 26, 2026, by Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya and outlined by officials, the new body marks a structural shift toward proactive environmental mitigation.
A Direct Presidential Mandate for High-Risk Ecosystems
President Prabowo Subianto greenlit the creation of the BPGMN following consultations with academics and ecological experts at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta. Unlike previous incarnations such as the dissolved Peatland and Mangrove Restoration Agency (BRGM), the newly formed BPGMN will operate outside traditional ministerial lines. “We agree that we need this agency. It must exist — the National Peatland and Mangrove Management Agency. It will not be under a ministry but directly under the President,” Prabowo said, according to a statement from the Presidential Secretariat’s Press, Media and Information Bureau (BPMI).
Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni noted that the agency will receive sufficient budget support and target critical provinces characterized by extensive peat deposits. These priority zones include Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan, regions historically plagued by severe seasonal haze.
Shifting Strategy from Reactive Suppression to Early Detection
The BPGMN intends to reverse this dynamic. “The goal is prevention, because everyone is aware that prevention is far more important, effective, and efficient than reactive actions,” Raja Juli explained. State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the human element behind the ecological crises. “Education is important because all fires originate from human activities,” Prasetyo noted during discussions on Thursday afternoon.
To execute this preventive mandate, the agency will integrate scientific research, satellite mapping, early detection protocols, and continuous hotspot monitoring. Scientists and specialized professionals will staff the institution to optimize peatland management. On the ground, the government is expanding tactical infrastructure by deploying water pumps, portable equipment, and shallow wells across vulnerable zones, while mobilizing village officials and local community fire-prevention groups for rapid initial responses.
Corporate Accountability and Military Deployment
Beyond ecological science and community education, the administration is pairing administrative reform with strict enforcement and security assets. President Prabowo instructed the Indonesian National Armed Forces to deploy 1,000 personnel across key regencies to educate rural populations on fire-prevention practices, with potential support from the National Police. Concurrently, authorities are auditing corporate compliance regarding mandatory fire-mitigation infrastructure.
Existing regulations require commercial concession holders to maintain observation towers, water reservoirs, and dedicated corporate firefighting teams. “There are companies that comply and there are companies that do not. We must put this in order,” Prabowo stated, emphasizing that the state will continue investigating enterprises suspected of deliberately igniting land for clearance. With Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister Brian Yuliarto highlighting the sheer scale of the nation’s 33 million hectares of peat, the success of the BPGMN will hinge on whether this centralized oversight can successfully bridge the gap between policy enforcement and grassroots execution.
