Enviro News Asia, Jakarta – Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni announced that the government will revoke the Business Permit for Forest Utilization (PBPH) of 18 companies. The revocation is being carried out because these companies have failed to optimally utilize forest areas.
This decision follows a direct directive from President Prabowo Subianto. “The President emphasized that forests must be preserved as the lungs of the world. However, development must continue, and its management should benefit the people,” said Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni after meeting with President Prabowo Subianto at the Presidential Palace Complex, Central Jakarta, on Monday (February 3, 2025).
The 18 companies in question have not optimally utilized the forests, despite having permits issued between 1997, 1998, 2006, and 2010. The total area of revoked permits covers 526,144 hectares, spanning from Aceh to Papua. “In an effort to maximize the role of these forests, I will soon issue a Ministerial Decree to revoke the PBPH permits,” said Raja Juli Antoni.
Before revocation, the ministry will follow a reminder mechanism, including sending official letters and conducting further inspections. “We have specific criteria for the reminder process—sending letters, rechecking, and eventually, I will revoke the permit after obtaining approval from President Prabowo Subianto,” Raja Juli explained.
Furthermore, he noted that the revocation process will also wait for a Ministerial Regulation (Permen) set to be issued soon. Once revoked, the utilization of forest areas will revert to state ownership. Essentially, he stated, Prabowo has ordered that forest functions be maximized for the benefit of the people. “They will become state forests, and later, we may reissue permits, whether to be managed by state-owned enterprises (BUMN), Danantara, Agrinas, or other entities,” Raja Juli stated. The most important thing, he emphasized, is that these forests must contribute to public welfare.
