Environment Minister urges water sharing to prevent peat fires in Riau
The ministry is using water-table data and real-time CO₂ and CH₄ monitoring to reduce fire risk and emissions.
Environment Minister Moh Jumhur Hidayat is urging cooperation between local residents and corporations through water sharing to prevent forest and land fires in Riau. During an inspection of PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper’s operating area in Pelalawan Regency on Friday (19/6), Jumhur said peat water management must extend beyond company concessions to include nearby community land. At the site, peat water management is carried out by dividing zones based on uniform land elevation, along with canal blocks and water-table monitoring to keep peat wet. He also inspected a greenhouse gas monitoring tower that measures carbon dioxide and methane flows in real time as the basis for sustainable land management strategy.