Government Forms New Task Force: Forest Area Regulation Requires Transparency

Palm Oil Magazine
Government Forms New Task Force: Forest Area Regulation Requires Transparency. Photo by: Sawit Fest 2021 / Raisan Al Farisi

PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA – President Prabowo Subianto has officially issued Presidential Regulation No. 5 of 2025 on Forest Area Regulation, marking a strategic step in managing forest areas, particularly in tackling illegal activities such as mining and oil palm plantations.

As part of this policy, the government has established a Task Force (Satgas) consisting of supervisory and operational units, tasked with collecting administrative fines, reclaiming forest areas, and restoring state assets.

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However, the policy has sparked mixed reactions from environmental and legal observers. Achmad Surambo, Director of Sawit Watch, pointed out that illegal activities in forest areas have been ongoing for a long time, including through the legalization of oil palm plantations in forest areas under Government Regulation (PP) No. 24 of 2021. According to him, government transparency remains a major issue.

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“So far, information on the progress of palm oil legalization, the total administrative fines collected, and the legal entities that have fulfilled their obligations remains inaccessible to the public. The government should disclose this data to build public trust in its policies,” Surambo told Palmoilmagazine.com on Monday (Jan 27, 2025).

He also cited recent data, revealing that out of 3,690 legal entities, only 17 have been granted forest release, while 35 have been subjected to administrative sanctions. By the end of 2023, administrative fines collected had reached Rp 239 billion, with Forest Resource Provision (PSDH) and Reforestation Fund (DR) contributions totaling Rp 61 billion and Rp 13 million, respectively.

 

Military Involvement Sparks Concerns

The formation of the new Task Force has also drawn criticism for its military-dominated leadership. Some fear that this approach could lead to a militarized bureaucracy.

“Will this involve restricting public access to information and deploying military forces? What about the rights of Indigenous communities living in forest areas?” Surambo questioned.

Ahmad Zazali, Chairman of the Center for Law and Conflict Resolution (PURAKA), warned that the new regulation could create legal uncertainty. Article 7 of Presidential Regulation 5/2025 allows for criminal sanctions against legal entities that have already paid administrative fines, which could deter businesses from fulfilling their obligations.

Gunawan, Senior Advisor at the Indonesia Human Rights Committee for Social Justice (IHCS), emphasized the need for consistent law enforcement. He stressed that the main challenge for the Task Force is distinguishing between organized groups that exploit forests and Indigenous communities living in these areas.

 

Calls for Transparency and Public Involvement

Looking ahead, environmental and legal experts hope the Task Force will operate transparently and engage civil society in monitoring efforts. Surambo emphasized that forest regulation is not just about legal enforcement but also about protecting the environment and affected communities.

With this policy, the government faces a major challenge: enforcing forest regulations while upholding justice and transparency. Will the new Task Force be able to meet these expectations? Only time will tell. (P2)

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