REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Non-governmental organization Peat Monitor wants forest and peatland protection efforts to be realized by elected leaders who will win this year's presidential and vice presidential election contests.

Peat Wahyu Perdana's Campaign and Advocacy Manager, Peat Wahyu Perdana remained hopeful, although in last night's vice presidential candidate debate the issue of peat was not specifically discussed.

“We hope that the three forward leaders in forests in general and peat protection are realized. Although we know that the homework ahead is heavy when viewed in the context of the debate,” he said in Jakarta, Monday (22/1/2024).

Revelation says that while no vice presidential candidate specifically raised peat, there are two things that are generally disputed in the forestry sector debate, namely deforestation and food estate. The three vice presidential candidates did little to allude to about peat ecosystems, wildfires, and only slightly alluded to about law enforcement.

“During the last year since the Omnibus Law came into force, 3.3 million hectares of land were simply cleared for illegal palm trees in forest areas and granted pardons. The three candidates are also unwilling hard,” Wahyu said.

In the last debate the vice presidential candidates, Muhaimin Iskandar and Mahfud MD specifically criticized the provision of food that is still imported. Meanwhile, Gibran Rakabuming claims that a food estate located in Gunung Mas Regency, Central Kalimantan Province, successfully produces food.

“In the field it failed and the condition of the cassava was skinny, there was never a record of how many tons of harvest there were,” Revelation said.

“Candidates number 1 and 3, in our opinion, also forgot that food in Indonesia is imported high also in the context of its policy change, its definition, it is supported by their supporting parties,” he added.

After holding a debate on vice presidential candidates, the Election Commission will hold a debate for presidential candidates on February 4, 2024. The themes of the supreme leader's final debate were social welfare, culture, information technology, health, employment, human resources, and inclusion.

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