Kalimantan Forest and Land Fire Disaster, the Speaker of DPD RI Sultan Requests Strengthening the Role of the Peat Restoration Agency

22 August 2026 oleh admin

Jakarta, dpd.go.id – The Speaker of the House of Regional Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPD RI), Sultan Baktiar Najamudin, expressed his concern regarding the peatland and forest fires (Karhutla) that occurred in several areas of Kalimantan Island.

According to him, peatland and forest fires are a disaster that occurs almost every year. Meanwhile, Indonesia has the second-largest peatland area in the world after Brazil.

"We appreciate the government's serious efforts to extinguish the fires. Both central and regional governments need to mobilize all available resources and efforts to help the people of Kalimantan," the Sultan said in an official statement on Saturday (22/8).

Sultan stated that forest and land fires are a disaster that severely limits the fulfillment of basic human needs, namely clean air. Therefore, DPD RI is paying special attention to this disaster.

"We've received information that many people in several areas are experiencing acute respiratory infections (ARI). This will certainly significantly impact public health, both in the short and long term," he said.

Therefore, Sultan continued, his party is encouraging the government, through the Peat Restoration Agency (Badan Restorasi Gambut), to immediately prepare a national agenda for more intensive and sustainable peat ecosystem restoration.

"The role of the BRG needs to be strengthened, of course, by collaborating with all relevant parties. Going forward, we want the potential of peat ecosystems to be managed and developed sustainably, including as an energy source, agricultural land, and aquaculture ponds," he concluded.**