Prabowo’s direct oversight of peatlands could bolster battle against haze, analysts say

Sign up now: Get insights on Asia's fast-moving developmentsPresident Prabowo Subianto has established the National Peatland and Mangrove Management Agency (BPGMN) to directly tackle Indonesia’s peatland fires and haze, aiming for stronger authority and cross-ministry coordination.The agency will focus on preventing fires and restoring degraded peatlands, with a need for clear mandates, sufficient funding, and power to regulate company concessions effectively.Experts stress the importance of political will, local community involvement, real-time monitoring, and regional cooperation to ensure successful peatland protection and restoration efforts.JAKARTA – As haze from Indonesia’s fires again reaches Singapore, President Prabowo Subianto is reviving a dedicated agency to tackle a major cause: dried-out peatlands that can burn for weeks once they catch fire and are notoriously difficult to put out.The thick, toxic smoke from burning peat is a major source of the haze and can cause respiratory illnesses in Indonesia and across the region.Get unlimited access to exclusive stories and incisive insights from the ST newsroom