Indonesia's new peatland agency to report directly to President Prabowo

October 5, 2026 at 03:00 AM2 min

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Indonesia is establishing a National Peatland and Mangrove Management Agency (BPGMN) that will report directly to President Prabowo Subianto. The agency will have powers to manage permits and determine land use for agriculture or conservation. The move comes as Indonesia faces its most serious wildfire season in years, with nearly 896,000 hectares burned by end of August.

Key Facts

President Prabowo Subianto ordered the establishment of BPGMN on September 24 following a meeting with scientists and senior government officials.
The new agency will report directly to the president, unlike its predecessor BRGM which operated from 2016 to 2024.
Official figures show around 202,000 hectares burned between January and July, while satellite estimates indicate nearly 896,000 hectares by end of August.
The agency is tasked with leading fire prevention efforts in six provinces: Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan.

Agency Structure and Powers

The National Peatland and Mangrove Management Agency (BPGMN) will report directly to President Prabowo Subianto. Unlike its predecessor, the Peatland and Mangrove Restoration Agency (BRGM) which ran from 2016 to 2024, the new agency will likely have powers to manage permits and determine which areas are suitable for agriculture and which should be preserved for conservation. Indonesian Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni said the new agency will be staffed by professionals and experts who truly understand peatlands and mangroves. Jakarta has yet to announce the detailed structure, powers, or budget of the agency.

Wildfire Context

The decision came as Indonesia grapples with its most serious wildfire season in years. Official figures show around 202,000 hectares had burned between January and July, while satellite-based estimates suggest the figure had surged to nearly 896,000 hectares by the end of August. By comparison, 218,000 hectares burned between January 2025 and August 2025, and 328,000 hectares burned during the same eight months of 2019, another El Nino year.