Indonesia to Make "Ecological Repentance" Law for Healing Nature

JAKARTA — Indonesia is drafting a new law called "ecological repentance," a legal framework requiring communities and companies to restore damaged ecosystems. The initiative stems from ancestral beliefs that natural disasters occur when humans fail to live in harmony with the environment. The proposed law would mandate specific actions to heal forests, rivers, and coastal areas. Officials say the measure aims to shift from punishing polluters after the fact to actively repairing ecological damage. The term "ecological repentance" is defined as a formal, legally-binding process of restoration. The draft is part of a broader push to address deforestation and pollution in the archipelago, which is home to some of the world's most biodiverse rainforests. Lawmakers expect the bill to face debate over enforcement and funding.