Enviro News Asia, Pelalawan — Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni affirmed that the government is now concentrating its major restoration agenda on 31,000 hectares of the core zone of Tesso Nilo National Park (TN Tesso Nilo). The initiative aims to restore the ecological functions of the park, which for years has been severely pressured by encroachment, threatening the survival of the Sumatran elephant.
During his field visit to Pelalawan Regency, Riau Province, on Friday (28 November 2025), the Minister also planted tree seedlings as part of the ecosystem rehabilitation effort. “The restoration of Tesso Nilo National Park is ongoing. We continue working to ensure that Domang and his fellow elephants have their home protected and can live freely in the wild,” he said.
The restoration efforts were initiated by Deputy Minister of Forestry Rohmat Marzuki, who began the rehabilitation of 511 hectares three weeks earlier. The Minister added that the government’s current commitment includes planting on an additional 7,000 hectares. “God willing, our primary focus is the restoration of these 31,000 hectares first. Gradually, this can expand to 80,000 hectares in accordance with the latest decree,” Raja Antoni stated.
He explained that President Prabowo Subianto has issued firm instructions to the Task Force for Forestry Crime Handling (PKH) to restore Tesso Nilo as a habitat for the Sumatran elephant. The encroachment issue, he noted, is not new. “This is not a problem that emerged in the last one or two years. The degradation of Tesso Nilo has been occurring for decades,” he said.
A crucial component of the restoration strategy is the relocation of residents living within the park’s core zone. This process, the Minister emphasized, is being carried out gradually and through persuasive dialogue. The government targets relocating 394 households starting in mid-December 2025 to designated alternative sites.
“God willing, the relocation will be conducted peacefully through deliberation. We will also provide replacement land for other residents, but not within the national park, which is the home of the Sumatran elephant,” he stressed.
The Minister also expressed appreciation to the public and online community actively raising awareness about Tesso Nilo conservation, especially through social media. The hashtag #SaveTessoNilo has strengthened the spirit of restoration on the ground. “Over the past five to six months, we have worked hard to reclaim Tesso Nilo and restore its habitat. Public support further motivates us to secure the habitat of Domang and other elephants,” he said.
The restoration of Tesso Nilo has now become one of the government’s largest conservation agendas. By focusing on the core zone, enhancing protection, and securing community support, the government hopes to restore and safeguard the home of the Sumatran elephant for the long term. (*)
