Ministry of Forestry Prepares Presidential Decree on BPGMN, New Peat and Mangrove Management Agency

BENGKALIS, GARISBUMI.com – The Ministry of Forestry has prepared a draft Presidential Regulation (Perpres) to establish the National Peat and Mangrove Management Agency (BPGMN). The new institution is designed to strengthen the management of these two ecosystems in Indonesia.

Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said the President had approved the formation of BPGMN after listening to input from scientists and academics. This statement was made during a visit to Tanjung Leban, Bengkalis Regency, Riau, Wednesday (30/9/2026).

"We have listened to the suggestions of scientists and academics with sufficient data that Indonesia needs an agency that seriously manages peat and it has been decided to establish a National Peat and Mangrove Management Agency, BPGMN," said Raja Juli, as quoted in the Ministry of Forestry's Public Relations statement.

Even though the decision to establish it has been submitted, the government is still preparing a draft Presidential Decree which will be the basis for establishing the agency.

Mandate and Structure Discussed with Experts

Raja Juli said that upon returning from Riau, he would hold a workshop for two days, Thursday and Friday, inviting experts and stakeholders related to peat and mangroves.

The meeting will discuss the mandate and organizational structure of BPGMN as material for preparing the draft Presidential Decree.

"To jointly hold a two-day workshop on Thursday and Friday to decide on the mandate of this new body, then what the organizational structure will be," he said.

Raja Juli targets that the draft Presidential Decree will be submitted to the President through the Minister of State Secretary on Friday or Monday after the visit. He hopes that the legal basis for the formation of BPGMN can be published in the following week.

That hope is still a target. The Ministry of Forestry's public relations statement did not mention the exact date for the issuance of the Presidential Decree or the start of operations for the new agency.

Tanjung Leban Becomes a Place to Study Peat Restoration

During the same visit, Raja Juli encouraged Tanjung Leban to become a learning center for peat restoration and prevention of forest and land fires or forest and land fires.

According to him, the area has experienced repeated fires and peat degradation. Recovery is then carried out through area restoration, planting endemic vegetation, and water management.

This experience is considered to be a learning material for other regions in Indonesia. Raja Juli also plans to invite BPGMN management to study recovery practices in Tanjung Leban after the agency is formed.

"After this new body is formed, I will invite them here to learn and then replicate it in other places," he said.

He also appreciated the involvement of the community, TNI, Polri, academics and the Regional Disaster Management Agency in preventing forest and land fires in the area.