Enviro News Asia, Palangka Raya — Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni has ordered the sealing of suspected illegally sourced timber, two timber trucks and heavy equipment found during a field inspection in Central Kalimantan, as the government steps up efforts to curb suspected violations in forest areas.
The findings were made on Oct. 31, 2026, while the minister was travelling by road from Palangka Raya to inspect locations affected by forest and land fires.
During the journey, Raja Juli spotted piles of large logs suspected of originating from illegal activities. He stopped to inspect the site with officials from the Forestry Ministry’s law enforcement directorate. Officers also summoned the local village head to provide information about the ownership of the timber.
Following indications of possible violations, forestry civil servant investigators installed an official enforcement line around the timber storage site to secure the area for further examination. The minister also coordinated with the Central Kalimantan Police chief and other law enforcement authorities to ensure the findings were followed up in accordance with the law.
Further along the route, the minister encountered two trucks carrying loads covered by tarpaulins. An inspection revealed timber suspected of being illegally sourced. Officers secured the wood for further investigation, including verification of documents concerning its origin and the legality of its transportation.
The minister subsequently stopped at another location after spotting an excavator inside a forest area. Following an inspection, officials sealed the heavy equipment pending further examination and possible enforcement action.
The findings highlight the ministry’s efforts to strengthen direct field supervision of timber transportation and the use of heavy equipment in forest areas. The ministry said every suspected violation would be assessed based on evidence and documents obtained during inspections before further legal action was taken.
“We only had to check along the roadside, and we immediately found large logs without any indication that they belonged to a legally licensed Forest Utilization Business Permit holder with SVLK certification. We also saw a timber processing factory nearby. It has a permit to process wood, but are the materials it uses actually sourced through legal processes? I ask that, at the very least, the findings from today’s inspection be followed up,” Raja Juli said to forestry law enforcement and forest police officials.
The minister stressed that forestry law enforcement must be firm and comprehensive to protect forest areas from illegal activities. Coordination with other law enforcement agencies will also be strengthened to ensure suspected violations are handled within their respective authorities and in accordance with applicable regulations.
The ministry said the inspections and sealing measures were intended to secure evidence and support further investigations. The allegations remain subject to verification and legal proceedings. (*)
