Enviro News Asia, Ogan Komering Ilir – Minister of Environment and Head of the Environmental Management Agency, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, launched the Peat-Caring Independent Village (DMPG) Program in Jadi Mulya Village, Air Sugihan District, Ogan Komering Ilir (OKI) Regency, South Sumatra, on Sunday (May 25).
This pilot village is expected to become the frontline defense against forest and land fires, while also driving the local economy in South Sumatra’s peatland areas.
“DMPG is not just about community-based peatland ecosystem restoration. This program also raises awareness and strengthens the local economy—serving as a primary preventive measure to reduce the risk of forest and land fires that often affect peatland areas like OKI,” Hanif said in his speech, as stated in a press release on Sunday (May 25, 2025).
He emphasized that Jadi Mulya Village holds significant importance in forest and land fire prevention efforts.
“Jadi Mulya Village demonstrates a direct correlation between fire mitigation and community welfare. This community-based peatland restoration model will be replicated in 800 independent peat villages by the end of 2025. DMPG will be the backbone of community-based forest fire prevention,” Hanif stated.
Peat Farming Without Burning
As a model village, PT OKI Pulp & Paper Mills (a unit of APP Group) has developed nearly 1,000 hectares of managed peatland rice fields since 2016. These rice fields are cultivated by several farmer groups from Jadi Mulya and surrounding villages.
On this occasion, Minister Hanif, along with OKI Regent H. Muchendi Mahzareki, Deputy for Sustainable Natural Resource Environmental Management (TLSDAB) at the Ministry of Environment Sigit Reliantoro, and Land Fire Expert Rafles B. Panjaitan, planted corn and oranges as intercropped plants to help retain soil moisture without resorting to burning.
Under the DMPG program, forest and land fire monitoring and prevention are carried out in layers—starting from community involvement and routine patrols to rapid response mechanisms.
During a presentation to the Minister, Panji Bintoro, Head of Fire Operation Management (FOM) for the Palembang Region at PT Bumi Andalas Permai (BAP), an APP Group supplier partner, explained the workflow of the hotspot detection system.
Once a satellite captures a hotspot image, the data automatically appears in the Fire Report Online System (FROS) application with accurate coordinates and location details.
The control center (situation room) immediately sends a report to the nearest post for on-site verification with firefighting equipment. The target is to verify each hotspot within 24 hours.
During the site inspection, Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq reviewed the readiness of firefighting pumps, from the main pumps to floating pumps. He also observed a fire suppression simulation involving members of the Fire Concerned Community (MPA), which is part of the Integrated Fire Management (IFM) system.
The simulation included displays of standard firefighting equipment such as the situation room, tools and accessories, the Sambunesia (a multifunction nozzle for peat injection), helicopters, motorbikes, and patrol vehicles.
APP Group Director Dr. Soewarso added that the company has trained over 700 MPA members in Sumatra. In addition to strengthening MPA efforts, agroforestry programs have been expanded to improve community livelihoods. “We connect corn and orange yields to local supply chains so the economic benefits are immediately felt. Our target is to elevate all assisted villages into peat-friendly agroforestry centers,” he explained.
The visit concluded with the distribution of Juz ‘Amma booklets to students of Jadi Mulya Public Elementary School (SDN Jadi Mulya) as a gesture of educational support and to strengthen spiritual values within the village.
