Jakarta (ANTARA) – President Prabowo Subianto summoned experts and researchers from several institutions and universities to the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday to discuss peatland management.
Ministers and agency chiefs arriving from 2:30 p.m. included National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) Chief Arif Satria, Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Chief Teuku Faisal Fathani, Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister Brian Yuliarto, and Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni.
“We were invited today to discuss peatland issues. There are two things. First, of course, forest and land fires, which we must resolve. Second, how to achieve sustainable use of peatlands,” BRIN Chief Arif Satria told reporters before the meeting.
Arif said the use of 24 million hectares of peatland is currently governed by regulations allowing a maximum 70 percent for utilization and requiring at least 30 percent to remain protected.
“We must design sustainable use properly because 41 million people live in peatland hydrological areas. That is why I believe the president invited experts today to discuss peatland management,” Arif said.
The list of invited experts and researchers included Bagus Muljadi of Nottingham University, Azwar Maas of Gadjah Mada University, Zakaria Amsari of Tanjungpura University, Haris Gunawan of Riau University, Darmae Nasir and Henrik Segah of Palangka Raya University, and Yulianto S. Nugroho of the University of Indonesia.
Others included Asmari Saad of Jambi University, Puji Lestari and Indratmo Soekarno of Bandung Institute of Technology, Made Hesti Lestari of BRIN, Ahmad Kurnain of Lambung Mangkurat University, Bambang Kun Cahyono of Gadjah Mada University, Sigit Sutikno of Riau University, Ati Dwi Nurhayati of IPB University, Muhammad Agung Santoso of the University of Indonesia, and Elham Sumarga of Bandung Institute of Technology.
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Translator: Genta TM, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Primayanti
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