Enviro News Asia, Riau — Vice Minister of Environment and Vice Head of the Environmental Control Agency, Diaz Hendropriyono, affirmed the readiness of the Ministry of Environment/Environmental Control Agency (KLH/BPLH) to support the reforestation of Tesso Nilo National Park through the provision of Environmental Services (Jasa Lingkungan Hidup/JLH) maps. He delivered the statement on 3 March 2026 during the launch of the restoration programme in Segati Village, Langgam District, Pelalawan Regency, Riau.
Diaz stated that KLH/BPLH will utilize JLH mapping data to prioritize areas with high environmental service value for rehabilitation and ecosystem restoration. He explained that the data will also support the rebuilding of elephant habitats, including the identification of water-regulating zones and suitable locations for saltlick development to sustain wildlife, particularly the Sumatran elephant.
In addition to technical mapping support, Diaz confirmed that KLH/BPLH can facilitate access to environmental funding mechanisms, including resources managed by the Badan Pengelola Dana Lingkungan Hidup (BPDLH), to strengthen rehabilitation and reforestation efforts.
Tesso Nilo National Park has experienced severe degradation, with more than 90 percent of its area reportedly affected by deforestation and land conversion. Diaz emphasized that KLH/BPLH’s involvement demonstrates the government’s commitment to restoring the park’s ecological integrity. He noted that the park once covered approximately 81,000 hectares but has since significantly declined, making reforestation an urgent priority.
Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni highlighted that collaboration among 11 ministries and government agencies will determine the success of the restoration programme. He stated that the government initiated reforestation on 400 hectares during the launch and targets 2,574 hectares for the first phase in 2026.
Acting Governor of Riau and Head of the Acceleration Team for the Restoration of Tesso Nilo National Park (TP2TNTN), Sofyan Franyata Hariyanto, expressed the regional government’s readiness to oversee field implementation. He called for sustained operational support from the central government to ensure that restoration targets through 2028 can be achieved effectively.
Through coordinated policy, financing, and ecosystem-based planning, the government aims to restore Tesso Nilo’s forest landscape and strengthen habitat protection for elephants and other wildlife species. (*)
