TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has ordered the Environmental Affairs and Forestry Ministry and the Agriculture Ministry to ban new permit over the management of untouched peatland with a total area of roughly 6.1 million hectares. “Perform maximum protection. Ban new permit save for ecosystem restoration permits together with the people,” the President said yesterday in his opening remarks on peatland restoration at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta.

As for untouched peatland which concession was already secured, Jokowi expects them be converted into protection area. Going forward, the President confirmed that peatland restoration program will continue. This year, the government is aiming to restore 400,000 hectare of peatland, or 20 percent of an area totaling 2 million hectares to be restored by 2020.

“The government is committed to continue to restore peatland in seven provinces,” he added. The seven provinces are Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan and Papua.

Jokowi believes that the target to restore 400,000 hectares is not impossible to achieve. He, however, said that Peatland Restoration Agency (BRG) will need help from other stakeholders. The President said that the BRG may get help from relevant ministries, the people, plantation business owners and local governments.

ISTMAN MP