Enviro News Asia, West Sumatra — The Ministry of Forestry, through the Directorate General of Forestry Law Enforcement (Gakkum), has moved swiftly to implement a temporary suspension of forest product administration access in three flood-affected provinces—Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. The measure supports a directive issued by the Directorate General of Sustainable Forest Management (PHL) that temporarily halts all timber utilization and transportation activities to prevent the potential mixing of illegal timber amid emergency disaster conditions.
The policy responds to heightened risks during flood emergencies, where weakened controls may be exploited for unlawful logging and timber circulation. Gakkum Forestry stated that the suspension aims to safeguard forest governance while prioritizing disaster recovery and risk mitigation efforts.
Director of Forestry Complaint Prevention and Handling, Yazid Nurhuda, said Gakkum has adopted tactical measures to close potential loopholes that could enable illegal timber exploitation during disaster situations. He emphasized that law enforcement fully supports the temporary freeze, noting that emergency conditions must not be misused for illicit gain.
During the suspension period, Gakkum Forestry will carry out two strategic actions: expanding public complaint channels and intensifying field supervision. The ministry underscored the importance of community participation as frontline observers by encouraging residents in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra to report any suspicious logging or timber transportation activities while the halt remains in effect.
Gakkum has activated and expanded its public reporting channels on a 24-hour basis. Reports can be submitted through the Forestry Law Enforcement call center, official social media platforms, the online complaint system via email at pengaduan.gakkum@kehutanan.go.id, or through the hotline at +62 852 7014 9194 to ensure rapid response by enforcement teams.
In parallel, Gakkum Forestry has instructed forestry supervisors to conduct intensive monitoring in line with the PHL Director General’s directive to all business license holders and PKKNK approval holders. Enforcement teams will oversee compliance to ensure that no timber loading, transportation, or shipment activities occur in any form during the suspension period.
The Ministry of Forestry stated that these preventive and enforcement measures aim to protect forest sustainability while supporting accelerated post-disaster recovery efforts across Sumatra. (*)
