Enviro News Asia, Jakarta – The Ministry of Forestry has sealed 55 unauthorized business activities located within forest areas. This enforcement action was carried out by the Directorate General of Forestry Law Enforcement (Ditjen Gakkumhut) of the Ministry of Forestry, as part of efforts to preserve forest sustainability through measured and continuous law enforcement strategies.
The statement was delivered by Lukita Awang, Secretary of the Directorate General of Gakkumhut, along with Rudianto Saragih Napitu, Director of Forest Crime Enforcement, during a media briefing on the performance achievements from January to April 2025, held on Tuesday (May 6, 2025).
Lukita Awang explained that of the 55 sealed business activities, 6 cases are currently under investigation, while the remaining 49 are still in the stage of gathering preliminary information (Pulbaket) to strengthen field evidence and witness statements.
These sealed operations are located in forest areas situated in the upstream regions of river basins. The breakdown is as follows: 17 units in the Cisadane River Basin, 11 in Ciliwung, 7 in Bekasi, 15 in Citarum, and 5 units of illegal gold mining (PETI).
Lukita emphasized that a restorative justice approach is a key foundation in their forestry law enforcement strategy. “Restorative justice is a tool to integrate forestry legal instruments to restore the damage suffered by forests, the state, and communities.
Our goal is to recover losses, create a deterrent effect, and foster a culture of compliance,” he stated.
Over the first four months of this year, Lukita Awang and Rudianto Saragih Napitu reported several notable achievements by the Directorate General of Gakkumhut, including responding to 90 public complaints.
Furthermore, 10 forest crime cases have reached the prosecution-ready stage (P21), and 18 forest and forest product protection operations were conducted, comprising 9 operations against forest encroachment, 2 against illegal mining, 5 related to flora and fauna (TSL), and 2 illegal logging operations.
Additionally, Lukita and Rudianto stated that tackling illegal mining remains a priority. In the Special Purpose Forest Area (KHDTK) of Mulawarman University (UNMUL) in East Kalimantan, an investigation order was issued under Number: 01/PPNS/GAKKUMHUT.10/GKM.5.3/B/4/2025, dated April 28, 2025. Investigators have begun taking witness statements, including expert testimony.
In Klapanunggal, Bogor, warning signs have been installed at suspected illegal mining areas in Cisodong and Nambo. Ditjen Gakkumhut has committed to continuing the investigation and taking firm action.
Public reports are also being followed up in Teluk Jambe, Karawang, West Java. In the area designated for social forestry, Ditjen Gakkumhut carried out enforcement actions against illegal waste dumping in forest zones.
Currently, Ditjen Gakkumhut is investigating alleged encroachment in the Tanjung Gundap IV Protected Forest Area, Batam City, Riau Islands.
The encroachment was carried out through cut-and-fill activities clearing mangrove vegetation without any forest-related business permits, covering an area of 5.98 hectares entirely consisting of mangrove vegetation.
According to environmental damage valuation experts, the estimated loss amounts to around IDR 23 billion. The case is currently in the investigation stage.
In a joint operation with the National Police Headquarters on April 14, 2025, Ditjen Gakkumhut successfully confiscated 165 kg of pangolins from two separate locations.
This action is part of the national campaign against wildlife and plant crimes (TSL). Seized evidence includes 12 tiger fangs, 20 gall bladders, and several rhino horns.
In handling TSL-related cases, Ditjen Gakkumhut also successfully thwarted an attempt to smuggle 94 protected wildlife skeleton specimens abroad via online trade, involving two suspects from Sukabumi, West Java. *
