Enviro News Asia, Jakarta – The Minister of Forestry, Raja Antoni, announced on Friday that the government will revoke 20 Forest Utilization Business Permits (PBPH) across Indonesia as part of an intensified crackdown on environmental violations following recent floods and landslides in West Sumatra and North Sumatra. He stated that the ministry is conducting a full investigation into the illegal timber flows detected after the disaster.
The minister confirmed that his office is working closely with the National Police to identify and take action against individuals and companies involved in forest destruction. He emphasized that all timber materials swept away by floods are being examined scientifically to determine their origin and trace potential legal violations. He said he will pursue anyone responsible for damaging Indonesia’s forests without exception.
Raja Antoni reiterated that protecting forests is directly linked to public safety, stressing that the government will not tolerate any practices that endanger communities living around forest areas. He said that early findings indicate that wood debris carried by the floods may be connected to unreported forest clearing, prompting the ministry to accelerate enforcement measures.
As part of these measures, the ministry will revoke 20 PBPH permits deemed problematic, adding to the 18 PBPH permits covering 526,144 hectares revoked on February 3 earlier this year. The latest revocations involve approximately 750,000 hectares of concession areas spread across several provinces, including regions directly impacted by the recent disasters. The minister said this action aligns with President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to strengthen forest governance and restore degraded landscapes.
The minister also committed to conducting a comprehensive review of all permits related to forest and land use. He announced that the ministry will implement a moratorium on the issuance of new PBPH permits to ensure better oversight and prevent further ecological damage. He said the government aims to evaluate each existing concession to determine compliance with environmental regulations.
Raja Antoni added that the ministry will continue to coordinate with local governments, law enforcement agencies, and communities to prevent similar incidents in the future. He stressed that restoring accountability in forest management is essential to safeguarding Indonesia’s natural resources and protecting citizens from disaster risks.
