President Prabowo Subianto recently underscored the critical importance of forest conservation as a primary strategy to avert future natural disasters across Indonesia. Speaking at the Peak Commemoration of National Teacher’s Day in Jakarta, he directly linked widespread deforestation and environmental degradation to the heightened vulnerability of regions like Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra to devastating floods and landslides.
Addressing the nation on Friday, November 28, President Prabowo expressed profound sorrow for those affected. “We feel that our brothers and sisters are experiencing sorrow due to natural disasters occurring in several places in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra,” he stated, emphasizing that rampant tree felling and the destruction of vital forest ecosystems significantly exacerbate the risks of such catastrophes.
Beyond protecting forests, President Prabowo also championed proactive river maintenance. He urged communities and authorities to ensure rivers remain clean and unobstructed, highlighting their crucial role in managing sudden, large volumes of water during periods of extreme weather. “Preventing deforestation, forest destruction, and also keeping our rivers clean is paramount,” he asserted, stressing a holistic approach to environmental stewardship.
Prabowo Urges Teachers to Embrace Environmental Education
The President further noted that the recent spate of natural disasters within the archipelago serves as a stark reminder of the global challenges posed by climate change, global warming, and pervasive environmental damage. This perspective reinforced his belief in long-term solutions, particularly through education.
During his address to educators, Prabowo, who also chairs the Gerindra Party, passionately stressed the profound urgency of instilling environmental education in children from an early age. He called upon teachers nationwide to integrate environmental issues into their classroom teachings, proposing a potential expansion of environmental topics within the national curriculum. “I think perhaps teachers across Indonesia can already start,” Prabowo remarked. “But perhaps we need to add it to the syllabus, into subjects, and also cultivate an awareness of the great importance of us protecting the natural environment.”
The critical need for these preventive measures and educational reforms is underscored by the tragic human toll. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported a staggering 174 fatalities as of November 28, resulting from the devastating floods and landslides that have ravaged Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.
Summary
President Prabowo Subianto menekankan pentingnya konservasi hutan sebagai strategi utama untuk mencegah bencana alam, secara langsung mengaitkan deforestasi dengan banjir dan tanah longsor di Aceh, Sumatera Utara, dan Sumatera Barat. Beliau juga menyerukan pemeliharaan sungai yang proaktif, memastikan sungai tetap bersih dan tidak terhalang, serta mengungkapkan duka cita atas 174 korban jiwa akibat bencana ini.
Prabowo menyatakan bahwa serangkaian bencana ini mengingatkan pada tantangan perubahan iklim dan kerusakan lingkungan global. Oleh karena itu, ia mendesak agar pendidikan lingkungan diintegrasikan sejak dini, mendorong para guru untuk memasukkan isu-isu lingkungan ke dalam pengajaran mereka dan mempertimbangkan perluasan topik lingkungan dalam kurikulum nasional.
