Diskusi Presiden RI dan Akademisi Terkait Penanganan Lahan Gambut pada Potensi Karhutla, 24-9-2026

Discussion at Merdeka Palace, President Prabowo and Academics Discuss Peatland Management and Forest and Land Fire Prevention President Prabowo Subianto held a discussion with several academics and experts at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Thursday, September 24, 2026. The meeting focused on in-depth discussions on peatland ecosystem management as well as comprehensive measures for preventing and handling forest and land fires (karhutla). Teuku Faisal Fathani, Head of the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), stated that during the meeting, President Prabowo received various views and input from experts from several universities and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). "Yes, we actually discussed many things. But the main point was that we listened to input from experts from various universities, including from BRIN," Faisal said in a statement to the media after the meeting. According to Faisal, the discussion focused on three main aspects: response measures when a fire occurs, management and protection of the peat ecosystem, and selection of suitable plants and varieties for cultivation in peat areas. "First, what should we do if a fire occurs? What's the most optimal way to handle it? Second, how to utilize and maintain the peat ecosystem. And third, and finally, what cultivation methods, plants, and varieties are suitable for peat areas," he explained. Furthermore, the discussion also addressed immediate measures that can be strengthened in the field, one of which is optimizing the Land Task Force (Satgas) to directly address fires. Several extinguishing techniques were also discussed, including shallow drilling to obtain water sources, which are then pumped using portable pumps. "Currently, what we are strengthening is the Land Task Force, which can directly address forest and land fires in the affected areas. So, there are several methods, many techniques discussed. One of them is shallow drilling, then pumping water using portable pumps to extinguish fires within a radius of approximately 200 meters from the drilling point," Faisal explained. The strength of communities surrounding peatland areas is also considered crucial. The discussion also discussed strengthening fire-preserving community groups to assist in extinguishing fires and preventing fires in their neighborhoods. In terms of prevention, experts emphasized the importance of maintaining peat moisture. Efforts are made to keep the peatland surface covered with vegetation to prevent excessive evaporation, which can make the peat drier and more flammable. "The point is, we'll try to maintain the peat water level. As mentioned earlier, it shouldn't sink deeper than 40 cm from the ground surface. The hope is that when it's more saturated and moist, the peat won't catch fire easily," said Faisal. These efforts can be achieved by maintaining the ecosystem and water reservoirs beneath the peatland. Furthermore, weather modification operations remain a tool that can be utilized when cloud cover permits. "One way is to maintain the peat ecosystem with its underlying water reservoirs. If rain clouds are present, we can also conduct weather modification operations," Faisal concluded. Jakarta, September 24, 2026 Bureau of Press, Media, and Information, Presidential Secretariat Website: https://www.presidenri.go.id YouTube: Presidential Secretariat Instagram: sekretariat.presiden