Enviro News Asia, Mojokerto — Indonesia’s Minister of Environment and Head of the Environmental Control Agency (KLH/BPLH), Moh Jumhur Hidayat, emphasized that river communities are at the forefront of the country’s efforts to protect and restore rivers during the 2026 Indonesia River Conference held in Trawas, Mojokerto, East Java, on July 27.
Organized ahead of National River Day, the conference brought together approximately 500 participants from 15 provinces, 53 regencies and cities, and representatives from 33 river basins across Indonesia under the theme “Caring for Rivers, Restoring Life.” The event aimed to strengthen collaboration among government institutions, local communities, academia, businesses, and environmental organizations to safeguard river ecosystems.
Addressing the conference, Jumhur praised river communities for their long-standing commitment to protecting waterways and fostering partnerships with various stakeholders. He stressed that public participation remains essential to ensuring the long-term preservation and restoration of Indonesia’s rivers.
The minister noted that river restoration has become increasingly urgent as water quality continues to decline nationwide. National water quality monitoring conducted in 2025 at 6,245 monitoring sites covering 1,926 rivers and 109 lakes found that only 234 water bodies met national water quality standards, while 1,801 were classified as polluted. The primary pollutants included Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Total Coliform, Fecal Coliform, and chlorine originating from domestic, agricultural, livestock, and industrial activities.
Throughout the three-day conference, participants exchanged best practices, discussed innovative restoration strategies, and strengthened cooperation networks to accelerate river conservation efforts. The event also produced a joint River Community Declaration, featured tree planting activities and interactive discussions, and culminated in the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Environment and the Indonesian Rafting Federation (FAJI).
The agreement is expected to reinforce river protection initiatives while promoting the sustainable use of rivers through environmentally responsible water tourism and rafting activities that preserve ecological functions.
The Ministry of Environment reaffirmed that rivers are vital natural resources and sources of life that require collective stewardship. Through stronger multi-stakeholder collaboration, the ministry aims to restore healthy river ecosystems while supporting sustainable livelihoods and improving environmental quality across Indonesia. (*)
