Environment Minister Applauds Community Role in Restoring Indonesian Rivers

Indonesia's Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLH/BPLH) convened the 2026 National River Conference in Trawas, Mojokerto, East Java, from July 25-27, under the theme "Caring for Rivers, Restoring Life." The event brought together approximately 500 participants from 15 provinces, 53 regencies/cities, and representatives from 33 river basin areas nationwide.

During the three-day forum, participants exchanged ideas, shared best practices, and strengthened collaborative networks to develop tangible solutions for river restoration in Indonesia. Minister of Environment and Forestry, Moh Jumhur Hidayat, lauded the vital role of community groups, recognizing them as the primary drivers behind efforts to maintain and rehabilitate rivers throughout the country. He emphasized that community involvement is crucial for the preservation and recovery of Indonesia's waterways.

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All civilizations, including in Indonesia, certainly have their traces in the rivers. You all are doing that in this place, in your respective places, and are willing to open yourselves up for collaboration with anyone, primarily with the government, with academics, entrepreneurs, corporations, and so on.

Hidayat noted the historical significance of rivers in the development of civilizations, including Indonesia's. He encouraged collaboration between communities, government, academics, and businesses. This call for partnership comes at a critical time, as national water quality monitoring data from 2025 revealed that out of 6,245 monitored locations across 1,926 rivers and 109 lakes, only 234 water bodies met quality standards, while 1,801 were found to be polluted. Key pollutants include Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Total Coliform, Fecal Coliform, and chlorine, stemming from domestic activities, livestock, and industry.

East Java Provincial Secretary Adhy Karyono also highlighted the provincial government's support for river conservation through initiatives like "Susur Sungai" (River Exploration) and "Patroli Air" (Water Patrols). He expressed gratitude to environmental activists and formally recognized the "Patroli Air" teams, emphasizing the importance of collaboration with the business sector, academia, and media to safeguard the nation's rivers. The conference concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between KLH/BPLH and the Indonesian Rafting Federation (FAJI), alongside the reading of the Community River Declaration and tree planting activities.

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We often conduct River Explorations together, but that is not enough. So once again, we thank the activists, environmental lovers, and we also specifically decree the Water Patrols. Of course, this is a form of our cooperation, besides not being separate from the business world, academia, and media, we are all concerned together about how to save and then preserve our rivers.