Enviro News Asia, Riau – The Kementerian Kehutanan officially launched a reforestation program in Taman Nasional Tesso Nilo as part of a national effort to restore degraded forest ecosystems in Riau Province. Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni led the launch ceremony, attended by representatives of central and regional governments as well as law enforcement authorities.
The minister emphasized that restoring Tesso Nilo constitutes a national priority due to its high ecological value. He stated that the park serves as a critical habitat for the Gajah Sumatera and other wildlife species in central Sumatra. He warned that delays in rehabilitation efforts would jeopardize the long-term sustainability of the region’s ecosystem.
The reforestation initiative follows government measures to regain control and restore forest areas that have experienced significant pressure from land conversion. Authorities will gradually remove oil palm plantations within the national park and replace them with ecologically valuable forest species.
In the initial phase of 2026, the ministry targets the restoration of 2,574 hectares. By 2028, the total recovery target will reach 66,704 hectares. During the launch event, officials conducted the first planting on approximately 400 hectares of former oil palm land, introducing 2,000 forest tree seedlings.
The ministry designed the program based on scientific assessments conducted in collaboration with research institutions and academics. The selected species aim to support wildlife habitat functions by providing food sources and natural cover, particularly for the Sumatran elephant.
Beyond ecological restoration, the government is strengthening governance measures through law enforcement, restorative justice approaches, gradual and persuasive community relocation, and land status clarification to ensure legal certainty.
Minister Raja Juli Antoni stressed that the success of the reforestation program requires cross-sector collaboration and active community participation. He stated that the initiative represents not only a tree-planting effort but also a shared commitment to restoring ecological balance and safeguarding forest heritage for future generations.
Through this program, the Ministry of Forestry reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating the recovery of strategic national forest areas and strengthening wildlife habitat protection across Indonesia. (*)
