Enviro News Asia, Jakarta – The Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut), through the Law Enforcement Unit (Gakkum) of the Kalimantan Regional Forestry Office, Section III Pontianak, has intercepted and inspected a water motorboat carrying unlicensed roundwood at the industrial dock of PT. BSM New Material, Ketapang Regency, West Kalimantan.
This operation is part of ongoing law enforcement efforts addressing the suspected circulation of illegal timber along the Pawan River in Ketapang Regency, which has recently resumed activity.
The Forestry Law Enforcement Team questioned two motorboat operators, identified as AI (56) and ZL (53).
In addition, an individual from PT. BSM New Material, identified as SY (62), was also investigated regarding the reception of roundwood at the company’s TPK industrial dock.
In its official release, the Ministry suspects that the logs were intended as raw materials for PT. BSM New Material’s wood processing industry.
During a physical inspection on Tuesday (June 2, 2025), authorities discovered 76 large round logs, estimated at approximately 200 cubic meters, consisting of various types and sizes.
The logs were not affixed with ID barcodes, which serve as proof of legal roundwood at both ends of the logs.
Moreover, upon reviewing the timber transportation documents presented by PT. BSM New Material, the Timber Legality Certificate (Surat Keterangan Sah Hasil Hutan Kayu Bulat/SKSHHKB) only listed 5 logs—far fewer than the actual number found—indicating a discrepancy between the physical quantity and the legal documentation.
Additionally, another document presented, a Timber Transport Note, is suspected not to be a legally recognized document for transporting roundwood under applicable forestry regulations.
“We take firm action against any violations related to the circulation of forest products, particularly the practice of legitimizing illegal timber using unauthorized transport documents. This operation is part of our commitment to forest conservation and upholding the law regarding the trade of forest products in West Kalimantan,” said Leonardo Gultom, Head of the Kalimantan Regional Forestry Law Enforcement Office.
The Director General of Forestry Law Enforcement at the Ministry, Dwi Januanto Nugroho, reaffirmed the Ministry’s strong and consistent commitment to prosecuting forest crime perpetrators.
“This enforcement is crucial to protect forest resources, prevent state losses, and support Indonesia’s commitment to climate change mitigation through the FOLU Net Sink 2030 program,” stressed Dwi Januanto. (*)
