Enviro News Asia, Bengkulu — Vice Minister of Forestry, Rohmat Marzuki, has reaffirmed the Indonesian government’s commitment to conserving forests and safeguarding the habitat of the critically endangered Sumatran elephants in the Seblat Landscape, Bengkulu Province. His statement followed an aerial inspection of the Seblat Elephant Corridor conducted by helicopter to assess the current condition of the area, including forest encroachment, illegal access routes, and remaining intact forest zones.
Accompanying the vice Minister were Lukita Awang, Secretary of the Directorate General of Forest Law Enforcement; Sapto Aji Prabowo, Director of Area Conservation; and Ade Mukadi, Director of Forest Revenue and Administration. The inspection aimed to ensure that the government’s forest protection policies are effectively implemented on the ground.
“The Seblat Corridor is home to the Sumatran elephants. The state will not tolerate any illegal activity that threatens this ecosystem. This is not only about the elephants but about ecological balance and humanity’s future,” said Rohmat Marzuki.
According to the vice Minister, forest protection operations are part of President Prabowo’s directive to strengthen environmental law enforcement. “Since January 2025, the Ministry has carried out 44 forest security operations against encroachment, with 21 cases already reaching prosecution (P21),” he added.
The Ministry also recently conducted mine clearance operations in Mount Halimun Salak National Park and Mandalika, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). One officer, Adi Pamungkas, tragically lost his life during the mission in Halimun Salak. “We extend our deepest condolences to his family. His dedication to protecting Indonesia’s forests will be remembered,” Rohmat stated solemnly.
Earlier, on November 2, 2025, the Forest Law Enforcement Agency (Gakkumhut) of Sumatra, in collaboration with the Kerinci Seblat National Park Authority (TNKS), Bengkulu Provincial Environment and Forestry Office, North Bengkulu Forest Management Unit (KPH), and Bengkulu Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), launched a joint field operation in the Air Rami Forest Production Zone, Mukomuko District. The operation deployed 18 personnel to respond to reports of ongoing encroachment in the Seblat Landscape — a crucial natural migration corridor for Sumatran elephants.
Preliminary mapping identified five suspected deforestation sites across production and protected forest areas. Field officers also discovered newly cleared land of approximately 3–4 hectares, allegedly opened in September 2025, indicating an increase in illegal activities in recent months.
During the November 2 operation, the joint team installed warning signs, established investigation boundaries, and began collecting evidence and testimonies from suspected perpetrators. Rohmat emphasized that this swift action demonstrates the government’s determination to stop environmental destruction and preserve the ecological integrity of the Seblat region.
Beyond law enforcement, the Ministry has developed an ecosystem restoration plan involving local governments, legal private companies, conservation institutions, and community groups. The collaborative plan focuses on three key actions:
- Rehabilitating degraded areas,
- Controlling illegal access routes, and
- Strengthening wildlife monitoring systems, particularly for Sumatran elephants.
Restoration efforts will include replanting native vegetation and growing elephant food plants along the corridor, as well as establishing buffer zones using non-preferred species like eucalyptus near residential areas.
“We open wide opportunities for collaboration. Let us protect the Seblat Landscape together — not only for elephants but for the future of humanity that depends on healthy forests,” concluded vice Minister Rohmat Marzuki. (*)
