Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — Indonesia’s Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni, and the UK Ambassador to Indonesia, Dominic Jermey, arrived in Takengon, Central Aceh Regency, to observe the progress of the Peusangan Elephant Conservation Initiative (PECI).
The delegation from Jakarta was welcomed by the Regent and Vice Regent of Central Aceh at the regency hall on Wednesday evening, June 18, 2025.
In his keynote address, Minister Raja Juli Antoni revealed that this initiative began following a meeting between President Prabowo Subianto and King Charles III in December 2024.
The Minister explained that the elephant conservation effort initially required around 10,000 hectares of land within the concession area of PT Tusam Hutani Lestari, to establish a protected wildlife corridor for the endangered Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus).
“At that time, President Prabowo declined the proposal—he didn’t want just 10,000 hectares. He expanded the commitment to 20,000 hectares. Later, President Prabowo even personally summoned the UK Ambassador to Indonesia, Dominic Jermey, to inform him that the conservation area could be extended to 80,000 hectares, if necessary,” the Minister shared with the audience.
PECI represents a collaborative effort involving the Indonesian government, WWF-Indonesia, PT Tusam Hutani Lestari, and a range of local and international partners, including the UK government, aiming to secure the long-term survival of Sumatran elephants through habitat protection and human-wildlife conflict mitigation, supported by mobilized funding.
UK Ambassador Dominic Jermey expressed pride in the UK’s partnership with Indonesia to protect the Sumatran elephant, as part of a broader cooperation on forests, nature, and biodiversity.
He shared his inspiration from the shared commitment of His Majesty King Charles III and President Prabowo to conserve forests and protect wildlife.
Mobilizing funding to support Indonesia’s unique ecosystems and species, he said, is essential for biodiversity and for building a more sustainable and resilient future for local communities and future generations.
Dominic further emphasized the need for innovative funding schemes to support the initiative. He suggested that both nations should encourage private sector participation, especially from industries directly reliant on healthy ecosystems, to contribute to conservation efforts.
“Let us continue working together to ensure that Aceh’s forests remain a home for this giant species. The UK is proud to support this vital project alongside the Ministry of Forestry, WWF, and PT Tusam Hutani Lestari,” Dominic stated.
He also noted that UK Minister for International Development, Baroness Chapman, had reaffirmed with Minister Raja Juli the UK’s commitment to renew the UK–Indonesia Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the FOLU Net Sink, originally signed in 2021.
The new MoU will also include the Peusangan Elephant Conservation Initiative, as part of the UK’s continued commitment to environmental and biodiversity conservation.
This collaboration, he added, could serve as a model for effective conservation in Indonesia, striking a balance between species protection and the livelihoods and safety of communities living near conservation areas. (*)
