PALMOILMAGAZINE, BELITUNG – The production-forest area in the Village of Pelepak Putih, Subdistrict of Sijuk, Belitung Regency, Kepulauan Bangka Belitung Province, was targeted for palm oil plantation regulation by the forest police of Kesatuan Pengelolaan Hutan Lindung (KPHL) Belantu Mendanau. This initiative aimed to safeguard forest conservation against unauthorized cultivation or plantations.
According to Agustiar, the Public Relations Officer of KPHL Belantu Mendananu, disciplinary measures were taken after the forest police “rider” team discovered palm oil plantations in the Dusun Trans Bali area of the Village of Pelepak Putih, Subdistrict of Sijuk, within the production forest zone. Satellite imagery revealed that these plantations covered approximately 17 hectares.
To enforce regulations, six forest police officers from KPHL Belantu Mendananu visited the location and erected signs prohibiting plantation activities without permits in forest areas. This action aligns with Laws Number 11/2020 concerning Job Creation. Additionally, the officers advised plantation owners to exercise caution when engaging in new planting activities and encouraged them to coordinate with KPHL.
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Agustiar emphasized that people could benefit from forest areas for plantation activities as long as they adhere to existing regulations. “That is why we just reminded that the people need to carefully do activity (in forest regions) and should ask forestry officers,” he said, as Palmoilmagazine.com quoted from Kantor Berita Radio Nasional RRI, Friday (26/4/2024). (T2)
