Politics · Indonesia · 2 hrs ago
Indonesia’s New Peatland Agency Faces Firefighting and Restoration Test
Indonesia has re-established a national agency for peatlands and mangroves, appointing Satyawan Pudyatmoko as its head and Maj.
Gen.
Sriyanto as his deputy.
The agency is expected to build on earlier peatland restoration work and strengthen efforts to prevent and fight fires.
Lawmakers want the agency to quickly extinguish fires in peatland areas, where ordinary methods such as water bombing may not be enough.
A member of Parliament’s Commission IV said water may need to be injected directly into burning peat, while warning that a forecast El Niño could make fire management harder through early 2027.
He called for repairs to 70% of damaged canal blocks and recovery of 60% of dried peatland, as well as community involvement in restoration.
Parliament plans to examine the agency’s targets and work plan after its recess, but lawmakers say they have not yet reviewed the decree setting out its powers and structure.
The agency’s longer-term goal, as described by the lawmaker, is to restore peat ecosystems so fires do not keep returning.
President Prabowo Subianto appointed Satyawan Pudyatmoko to lead Indonesia’s new Peatland and Mangrove Management Agency, known as BPGMN.
The agency is expected to strengthen peatland management, restoration and firefighting.
Members of the House of Representatives’ Commission IV said they would examine the agency’s targets and work plan after the parliamentary recess.
They called for direct water injection to extinguish peat fires and restoration of damaged peatland ecosystems to prevent fires from recurring.
- Who
- President Prabowo Subianto appointed Satyawan Pudyatmoko to lead BPGMN; Mayjen Sriyanto was appointed deputy.
- What
- Indonesia established the Peatland and Mangrove Management Agency. Lawmakers want it to improve peatland fire response and restoration.
- When
- Pudyatmoko was appointed on October 15, 2026. The article was published October 16.
- Where
- The appointment ceremony was held at the State Palace in Jakarta.
- Why
- The agency is expected to strengthen peatland management and restoration, improve fire suppression and help prevent future fires.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Satyawan Pudyatmoko and Mayjen Sriyanto were appointed as head and deputy head of BPGMN at the State Palace in Jakarta.
Commission IV lawmakers discussed the agency’s responsibilities and the need to strengthen fire suppression and peatland restoration.
Commission IV plans to hold a meeting to examine BPGMN’s targets and work plan.
- Agency
- Peatland and Mangrove Management Agency (BPGMN)
- Agency head
- Satyawan Pudyatmoko
- Deputy head
- Mayjen Sriyanto
- Appointment date
- October 15, 2026
- Damaged canal blocks
- 70 percent
- Drying peatland
- 60 percent
What people are saying
The strategy must be more intensive and cannot rely on ordinary methods such as water bombing alone.
The major task is to restore the damaged peatland ecosystem, immediately restore 70 percent of damaged canal blocks and 60 percent of peatland that is currently drying below the safe limit.
The Peatland Restoration Agency succeeded in restoring peatlands. Of course, we hope the new agency can manage peatlands even better.