Enviro News Asia, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has issued Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 5 of 2025 on Forest Area Management, aiming to address land management issues and business activities within forest areas.
The regulation, signed by President Prabowo Subianto on January 21, 2025, seeks to regulate forest areas by taking action against any party occupying forest lands in violation of existing laws.
“Forest area management includes imposing administrative fines, reclaiming forest areas, and restoring assets within the forest,” the regulation states.
The policy governs forest area management for conservation/protected forests and production forest areas used for mining, plantations, and activities outside the utilization of forest areas, environmental services, and the collection of non-timber forest products.
For businesses with operational permits but lacking forestry sector permits, administrative fines and reclamation of forest areas will be enforced.
Those possessing only partial business permits will face administrative fines and reclamation of the land, while individuals or entities without any permits will be subject to criminal sanctions and land reclamation.
Administrative fines will also apply to permit holders who acquired their permits unlawfully.
The regulation establishes a Task Force for Forest Area Management, tasked with implementing fines, reclaiming forest lands, and restoring forest assets.
The task force will be led by the Indonesian Minister of Defense as the Chief Advisor, with the Attorney General, Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), and Chief of Police serving as Deputy Advisors. Members include the Minister of Forestry, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning, Minister of Finance, and the Head of the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP).
The task force’s operational leadership will be held by the Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes, supported by deputies such as the Chief of General Staff of the TNI, the Chief of Criminal Investigation of the Police, and the Deputy for Investigations at BPKP.
Additional members include high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning, Ministry of Finance, and other relevant agencies.
The Forest Area Management Task Force is required to report its activities to the President of Indonesia at least once every six months.
