[Jakarta, December 28, 2020] The Madani Berkelanjutan Foundation appreciates the inauguration of Hartono Prawiraatmadja as Head of the Peat and Mangrove Restoration Agency (BRGM), on December 23, 2030. This inauguration is based on Presidential Decree Number 78/M of 2020 concerning the Appointment of the Head of the Peat and Mangrove Restoration Agency. Hartono replaces Nazir Foead who has served as Head of the Peat Restoration Agency (BRG) from 2016 to 2020.
" Continued peat protection and restoration are crucial, and therefore cannot be limited to just one term. Given the challenges and threats posed by legislation, the Job Creation Law and its implementing regulations increase the risk of weakening forest and environmental protection regulations for investment purposes. Indonesia is at risk of failing to achieve its commitments more quickly if peatland is damaged ," said Yosi Amelia, Forest and Climate Change Program Officer, Madani Berkelanjutan Foundation.
" The expanded duties of the Peat Restoration Agency, in addition to continuing restoration of peat areas and adding mangrove rehabilitation efforts in degraded or critical forest areas and outside them, mean that this Agency cannot simply carry out routine and routine activities. Its institutional capacity must be strengthened and not limited to a single government term. Restoring peat ecosystems requires considerable time and consistency, " Yosi added.
Fadli Ahmad Naufal, GIS Specialist at the Madani Berkelanjutan Foundation, analyzed that the currently threatened peat ecosystem covers approximately 24 million hectares. " Furthermore, this agency will also face peatland disputes with other permits covering an area of 21.3 million hectares. Another threat is at least 838,000 hectares of protected peatland ecosystems in food estates ," said Fadli Ahmad Naufal.
" Furthermore, the Peat and Mangrove Restoration Agency's duties and functions must also be further clarified, given that the authority related to emissions and emission reduction as stipulated in the Job Creation Law is no longer included. Furthermore, Presidential Regulation No. 92 of 2020 concerning the Ministry of Environment and Forestry does not include any functions and duties related to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation, forest degradation, and peatlands, which are mandated to a specific agency. Furthermore, Presidential Regulation No. 92 of 2020 has removed the article related to 'prevention, mitigation, and recovery' previously contained in Presidential Regulation No. 16 of 2015, replacing it with 'control'. This has the potential to weaken the protection of peat ecosystems ," said Yosi Amelia.
" In accordance with the development plan stated in the 2020-2024 RPJMN, the target for peatland restoration is to increase to 1.5-2 million hectares from the target in 2015. Meanwhile, the 2015-2020 restoration target has only reached 8 percent or 143,448 ha of the target of 1,784,353 ha in cultivation/concession areas, and 77 percent or 682,694 ha of the target of 892,248 ha in non-concession peatlands. This certainly needs to be improved and the institutions and authorities of BRG must be strengthened to achieve the considerable target for restoration and recovery of peatland ecosystems in 7 priority provinces, then added to mangroves, " added Yosi Amelia. [ ]
Contact Person:
– Yosi Amelia, Forest and Climate Change Program Officer, Madani Berkelanjutan Foundation, 08193-2217-1803, yosi@arsip.madaniberkelanjutan.id
– Luluk Uliyah, Senior Media Communication Officer, Madani Berkelanjutan Foundation, 0815-1986-8887, luluk@arsip.madaniberkelanjutan.id
