Jakarta, Sept. 25 -- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has instructed the establishment of the National Peatland and Mangrove Management Agency (BPGMN) to strengthen peatland management and prevent forest and land fires.

The decision was one outcome of the President's discussion with several academics on peatland management and wildfire risks at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Thursday (Sept. 24), Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya said in a statement received here on Friday.

According to Teddy, the agency is expected to strengthen wildfire prevention through research, mapping, early warning systems, and hotspot monitoring in peatland areas.

"The agency will involve scientists and professionals," he said.

The involvement of sci...