Hasto Kristiyanto calls for forest moratoriums and stronger environmental enforcement

PDI Perjuangan Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto has emphasized the importance of environmental conservation and addressed the recurring issue of forest and land fires (karhutla) in Indonesia.

During a workshop in South Malang, East Java, Kristiyanto highlighted the party’s ‘merawat pertiwi’ initiative, which involves planting an average of 234,000 trees annually, including mangroves. He noted that the goal is to foster local environmental communities that can leverage economic opportunities, such as carbon trading and sustainable fisheries, to ensure long-term ecological and economic benefits.

Addressing the causes of annual forest fires, Kristiyanto attributed the issue to poor spatial planning and weak law enforcement. He advocated for a forest moratorium to prevent land clearing through deforestation and called for strict sanctions against those who use fire to clear land, particularly for conversion into palm oil plantations. He cited former President Megawati Soekarnoputri’s tenure as an example of not issuing palm oil permits through forest clearing.