KBRN, Jakarta: The Indonesian government presented its conservation efforts for lakes and peatlands, including those involving local communities, during a side event at the 7th United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA-7) in Nairobi, Kenya.

Deputy Minister of Environment (KLH) and Deputy Head of the Environmental Planning and Management Agency (BPLH), Diaz Hendropriyono, confirmed in a statement from Jakarta on Friday, December 12, 2025, that he emphasized the crucial role of freshwater and peatland ecosystems in climate change mitigation and disaster resilience for both Indonesia and the world. The presentation was part of a forum titled "Community-Based Freshwater and Peatland Conservation for a Resilient Planet."

Specifically, he explained that Indonesia has successfully restored approximately 4.5 million hectares of peatland and has massively strengthened the KLH/BPLH's flagship program, the Self-Reliant Peatland Care Village (DMPG).

"Throughout the program, which has been running since 2017 in 323 villages, only three villages have experienced land fires. Therefore, this program has succeeded in saving the community from fires while increasing the income of the residents," Diaz explained, as quoted by Antara.

Highlighting the success of the DMPG program, Indonesia has set a target to expand the program to 800 villages.

This step is vital, as Indonesia possesses the world's largest tropical peatlands and holds approximately 500 cubic kilometers of water reserves across 840 large lakes and 735 small lakes. Consequently, the government places community-based conservation as the key to the success of its national environmental programs.

Before the inter-country delegates, Deputy Minister Diaz also affirmed Indonesia's leadership in sustainable lake management.

Indonesia has enacted comprehensive regulations, including Law No. 32/2024 concerning amendments to Law No. 17/2019 on Water Resources, and Presidential Regulation No. 60/2021 on the Salvage of National Priority Lakes, which designates 15 national priority lakes.

This commitment extends to the global level, highlighted by Indonesia’s initiation of the UNEA 5/4 Resolution on sustainable lake management, which was adopted by UNEP in 2022.

Currently, Indonesia is establishing a Regional Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Lake Management in Asia-Pacific and is ready to host and facilitate regional collaboration.

"Indonesia is ready to host and facilitate this collaboration. We also encourage similar centers around the world to form a global alliance in lake management," Diaz Hendropriyono concluded. ***