Enviro News Asia, Toba — Indonesia is bringing together government agencies, businesses, local communities and religious groups to restore the Lake Toba ecosystem through conservation activities, behavioural changes and the promotion of low-carbon development.
Environment Minister and head of the Environmental Control Agency Moh Jumhur Hidayat outlined the approach during a working visit to the Lake Toba region in North Sumatra on October 28, 2026. The programme included planting native trees, releasing native fish, promoting electric vehicles and inaugurating a public electric vehicle charging station.
Jumhur said environmental protection was closely connected to local culture, Indigenous communities and religious values, calling for collective action to safeguard natural resources and improve residents’ well-being.
During a dialogue with religious leaders, community representatives and local groups, he explained the concept of “Ecological Repentance” as a moral call for individuals, organisations, businesses and governments to acknowledge past environmental damage and take corrective action according to their respective responsibilities.
Individuals can contribute by managing waste responsibly, reducing single-use plastics and conserving energy. Companies whose operations have caused environmental damage, meanwhile, must fulfil their restoration obligations through substantive action.
“Ecological Repentance does not replace legal obligations. It is a moral impetus to improve behaviour and restore environmental damage through concrete action,” Jumhur said, adding that regulatory oversight and law enforcement would continue to be strengthened.
As part of the restoration programme, the minister visited the Taman Eden area, where local communities and state-owned electricity company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) carried out native tree planting. The initiative also includes plans for further planting at schools.
Jumhur praised the community’s commitment to maintaining and replacing seedlings for a full year, saying that restoration efforts must be measurable and supported by long-term maintenance. He encouraged other companies to replicate similar community-based initiatives.
The programme also included the restocking of native fish in Lake Toba to help restore aquatic biodiversity and maintain the lake’s ecological balance, while supporting the livelihoods of surrounding communities.
Environmental protection was also linked to spiritual and cultural values through the inauguration of a monument commemorating the “800th Anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi’s Prophetic Action” in Dolok Parmonangan.
The monument was developed through collaboration between the Capuchin Order’s Medan Province Foundation for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation and the Lake Toba community. It promotes environmental stewardship rooted in local cultural wisdom and spiritual responsibility.
The visit also featured an electric vehicle tour to promote the transition to cleaner energy, alongside the inauguration of a public electric vehicle charging station. Jumhur said the adoption of electric vehicles and forest ecosystem rehabilitation were complementary elements of Indonesia’s green development agenda.
The Environment Ministry and Environmental Control Agency said cooperation across sectors and faith communities was expected to strengthen environmental resilience and establish long-term conservation practices around Lake Toba. (*)
