Regent Wahid opposes discourse to abolish BRG

HSU Regent H Abdul Wahid HK gives a speech at the opening of the 2020 South Kalimantan Peatland Village Bio Expo in Banjang Village, HSU, Wednesday (25/11). (Antaranews Kalsel/Eddy Abdillah)

When talking about peatland, I am proud, because the areas most resilient to the crisis are peatlands,

Amuntai, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The Regent of North Hulu Sungai (HSU) H Abdul Wahid HK said he refused a discourse of abolishing or dissolving the Peatland Restoration Agency (BRG).

"Some time ago when I was a resource person at the peatland restoration event, there was a discourse from some parties about eliminating BRG. I was among those who opposed it, because peatland must be preserved for areas that do not have natural resources," he said in Amuntai recently.

Wahid said the areas that have peatland are actually more resilient to crisis, including in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak. whereas other areas were confused about it, regions with peatland, such as the HSU district, took it easy.

He confirmed that regions or districts with swampland or peatland are very potential to increase the welfare of its people. It even has been proven to be more irrepressible to crisis compared to those who have mining resources.

"When talking about peatland, I am proud, because the areas most resilient to the crisis are peatlands," he pointed out.

Wahid said, heretofore, it seems as if development has only relied on areas that have natural resources, even though peat areas can also improve the welfare of the people.

When attending the 2020 South Kalimantan Peatland Bio Expo in Banjang Village, Wahid said that the role of BRG as a non-structural institution under the President of the Republic of Indonesia is very much needed by districts or cities that have large peatland, such as HSU.

It had been proven, he said, thanks to the role of BRG, craftsmen in HSU can improve the quality of their purun webbing and sasirangan cloth that have high economic value.

Deputy III of BGR Myrna A Safitri at the Bio Expo also emphasized that peatland restoration does not only talk about the environment but also about growing people economy through peatland management.

"For example, purun as a raw material can only be produced in areas that have peatland. This purun handicraft has been going global with a high selling value. Even from peatland, many SMEs also produce various food products," she said.