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Good news comes from Indonesia’s environmental sector. The government, through the Ministry of Environment/Environmental Control Agency (KLH/BPLH), has officially issued two Government Regulations (PP) that mark an important step in protecting the earth and designing a greener and more sustainable future.
These two regulations are Government Regulation No. 26 of 2025 on the Environmental Protection and Management Plan (RPPLH) and Government Regulation No. 27 of 2025 on the Protection and Management of Mangrove Ecosystems (PPEM).
These two regulations are not just legal documents but represent how we, as a nation, begin to build a civilization that respects the carrying capacity of nature. As emphasized by the Deputy for Environmental Governance and Sustainable Natural Resources at KLH, Sigit Reliantoro, there is no longer room for development that disregards the limits of the earth.
“If we want our grandchildren to keep breathing fresh air and living off a healthy ocean, then all development must comply with nature’s capacity. We can no longer adopt the ‘build first, fix later’ mindset,” he stressed.
This regulation sets out a systematic planning framework for environmental protection and management (RPPLH) in Indonesia. It consists of three main stages:
Conducted at the national, island/archipelago, and ecoregion levels. Data is collected spatially and non-spatially, then analyzed and documented.
Terrestrial and marine ecoregions are designated based on inventory results as the foundation for planning and environmental protection.
Prepared by central to regional governments with a 30-year scope. It contains plans for natural resource utilization, environmental quality protection, climate change mitigation, and strategic policies.
This regulation also covers monitoring, evaluation, information systems, capacity building, public participation, and funding. RPPLH must be integrated into long-term and medium-term development plans.
The main focus of this regulation is to ensure sustainable development aligned with the carrying capacity of the environment while taking climate change into account.
Plans must be data-driven, based on scientific evidence such as air quality, water quality, ecosystem conditions, and population density. The goal is clear: development must not exceed the earth’s capacity.
According to the Chairman of the Indonesian Association of Urban and Regional Planners (IAP), Dr. Phil. Hendricus Andy Simarmata, RPPLH acts as an ecological compass that aligns national and regional development plans, prevents overlaps, and avoids land-use conflicts.
This regulation gives special attention to mangrove ecosystems. Indonesia has the largest mangrove forest in the world—around 3.44 million hectares. Mangroves not only protect coastlines from erosion but also serve as habitats for thousands of marine species and act as highly effective carbon sinks, storing up to 170 million tons of CO₂ annually. Unfortunately, many mangrove areas remain inadequately protected.
Through PPEM, the government enforces strict rules to preserve and restore mangroves, both inside and outside forest areas. Damaged areas must be restored. In fact, areas with high ecological value will be re-evaluated for possible designation as protected areas.
This effort is strengthened by the establishment of the Independent Villages that Care for Mangroves (DMPM) program. This program combines mangrove conservation with strengthening coastal communities’ economies through activities such as silvofishery (aquaculture integrated with mangrove forests), ecotourism, mangrove nurseries, and village empowerment.
“We want mangrove protection not to become a burden for communities, but instead to create new environmentally friendly economic opportunities,” explained Deputy Sigit.
Beyond that, participatory approaches are a guiding principle. The government encourages involvement from all stakeholders—academics, students, farmers, fishermen, and local communities. People can now directly engage in environmental planning through forums such as Environmental Development Planning Meetings (Musrenbang Lingkungan). Contributions such as data, ideas, or even small actions like planting mangroves and waste sorting play a significant role in shaping the earth’s future.
On the same occasion, the Director of Freshwater Ecosystem Protection and Management at KLH, Puji Iswari, stated that the government would soon prepare derivative regulations to ensure the technical and operational implementation of the two regulations. In addition, the government also plans to establish three new Technical Implementation Units (UPT) in Jambi, Pontianak, and Sorong. These will strengthen mangrove and freshwater management in Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Papua.
These two regulations are strong signals that Indonesia is serious about protecting the environment for future generations. But success will not happen without active participation from all of us. Now is the time to contribute: support nature-based planning, protect nearby ecosystems, plant trees, or advocate for environmental awareness in every space.
The earth is not an inheritance from our ancestors but a trust for our children and grandchildren. Let’s protect it together, starting now.
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