PALMOILMAGAZINE, PELALAWAN – On a quiet Saturday morning, the usual hum of heavy machinery at PT Sari Lembah Subur (SLS), a subsidiary of PT Astra Agro Lestari Tbk., in Pelalawan, Riau, came to a halt. The Forest Area Enforcement Task Force (PKH) arrived with a clear mission: to uphold regulations and protect forest areas from illegal activities.
Under the scorching sun, the task force erected warning signs across a 250-hectare area deemed to be within a designated forest zone. Harvesting operations were abruptly suspended as authorities enforced Presidential Regulation No. 5 of 2025 on Forest Area Enforcement. This was more than just a procedural act—it was a firm message that the government would not tolerate unauthorized deforestation without consequences.
“The company’s plantation covers around 250 hectares within a forest area,” said Rizki Tama from Pelalawan, speaking to Palmoilmagazine.com via WhatsApp on Monday (March 17, 2025).
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Meanwhile, PT AALI Tbk Riau’s public relations representative, Dede, confirmed that some of PT SLS’s land had overlapping Hak Guna Usaha (HGU) land-use rights with forest zones.
“Yes, some of PT SLS’s HGU plantations overlap with forest areas listed in Decree SK 36. That’s where the warning signs were placed,” he stated, as quoted by Palmoilmagazine.com from GoRiau.com.
However, Dede could not yet confirm the exact area sealed by the PKH Task Force. “We have no further details at this time; only the warning signs have been installed,” he explained.
The PKH Task Force’s actions are not arbitrary; they are backed by strict regulations and a strong commitment to environmental conservation. This enforcement serves as proof that these laws are not just words on paper—they are actively implemented on the ground.
Through this decisive move, the government reaffirms its commitment to regulating land use within forest zones and ensuring that the palm oil industry operates in compliance with existing laws. (P2)
