Enviro News Asia, Jambi — The Ministry of Environment/Bureau for Environmental Control (KLH/BPLH), in collaboration with APP Group, has engaged young people in learning about sustainable peatland ecosystem management through the KELANA (Kenali Lingkungan Bareng Anak Muda) program, held at the operational area of PT Wira Karya Sakti (WKS), District VII, Jambi, on Tuesday (3 February 2026).
The activity was organized in commemoration of World Wetlands Day and forms part of KLH/BPLH’s initiative to expand environmental education through collaborative partnerships with the private sector. Dozens of senior high school students from various regions across Indonesia participated in interactive discussions and field-based learning focused on peatland protection and management.
Director of Peatland Ecosystem Protection and Management at KLH/BPLH, Edy Nugroho Santoso, stated that the KELANA program aims to strengthen youth awareness of the ecological functions and economic potential of peatlands.
“Peatlands play a crucial ecological role while also offering economic value. Through KELANA, we seek to demonstrate that peatland conservation can go hand in hand with sustainable economic benefits,” Edy said.
He added that participants were also introduced to the interconnection between peatland and mangrove ecosystems as integral components of wetlands, particularly in the context of biodiversity conservation, carbon storage, and hydrological functions. According to him, both ecosystems play a strategic role in climate change mitigation, despite being located in different landscapes.
The selection of PT WKS District VII as the venue was based on the implementation of sound peatland hydrological management practices, as well as ongoing community empowerment initiatives around the concession area, which align with KLH/BPLH’s policy direction in promoting collaboration between government and the private sector.
Meanwhile, Deputy Director of Corporate Strategic & Relations at APP Group, Iwan Setiawan, emphasized that APP Group’s participation in the KELANA program reflects its support for government-led environmental education initiatives.
“Through KELANA, we support KLH’s efforts to allow young people to directly observe how peatlands are responsibly managed in productive areas that continue to deliver economic benefits while maintaining their environmental functions,” Iwan said.
One of the participants, Princessa Erilca Ratu, a student from SMA Negeri 1 Manado, expressed appreciation for the hands-on learning experience. She noted that the field activities enhanced her understanding of wetlands and highlighted their relevance to everyday life and sustainable development.
Similar sentiments were shared by Puteri Indonesia Lingkungan, Sophie Kirana, who attended the event and praised KELANA for providing comprehensive insights into the importance of peatland ecosystems. She emphasized that peatlands should not be viewed as vacant land, but as vital ecosystems that must be preserved collectively.
The KELANA program activities included presentations on peatland water management, site visits to canal blocking infrastructure, peat drilling demonstrations, introductions to forest and land fire prevention measures, utilization of non-timber forest products such as honey, tree planting activities, and visits to a situation room to understand monitoring and field preparedness systems. (*)
