DPR Member Calls for Burned Forests Not to be Planted with Palm Oil, but Hardwood Trees

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Daniel Johan, a member of the House of Representatives from the PKB faction, urged that burned forests should not be replanted with palm oil.

Daniel stated that the burned land should be planted with hardwood trees.

Moreover, Daniel reminded the government to take early preventive measures against forest and land fires (karhutla) to ensure such incidents do not recur in the future.

"Post-fire, the immediate action should be selecting the burned forest areas to plant productive trees first while also planting hardwood trees, avoiding palm oil due to its monocultural nature," Daniel told Kompas.com on Sunday (18/10/2026).

He also highlighted the newly established National Peat and Mangrove Management Agency (BPGMN), formed by President Prabowo Subianto.

He noted that BPGMN is responsible for the restoration of peatlands damaged by karhutla.

"Through reforestation efforts that involve local communities, it is essential to protect peatland to prevent fires, employing a socio-economic approach so that communities feel ownership of the land," he explained.

Meanwhile, Daniel reminded the government that preventing karhutla is far less expensive than addressing its aftermath.

"The forward approach should not be about putting out fires but preventing them entirely, as prevention is significantly cheaper than remediation," said Daniel.

"This is why local communities must be the top priority in recovering forests and land after this year's fires," he added.