PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA – A member of Indonesia’s House of Representatives (DPR RI) has praised a community-led effort to remove illegally planted oil palm trees from a protected forest in Aceh, calling it a model for restoring degraded forest landscapes through collaboration between local communities, environmental groups, and the government.
Daniel Johan, a member of Commission IV of the DPR RI, commended environmental activist Jerhemy Nemo and local volunteers for cutting down approximately 1,300 illegally planted oil palm trees in a protected forest area.
According to a statement quoted by Palmoilmagazine.com from Parlementaria, Daniel said the initiative demonstrates how public participation can play a vital role in restoring forests while strengthening environmental conservation.
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“The action carried out by environmental activist Jerhemy Nemo together with community groups and local residents is a positive initiative that deserves broad support,” Daniel said.
The restoration effort took place in a 10-hectare protected forest in Aceh that had been illegally converted into oil palm plantations. Following the removal of the trees, the site will be rehabilitated through the planting of native forest species to restore its ecological functions.
The initiative involves local communities, the Forest Management Unit (KPH) Region 7, and several conservation organizations operating in Aceh Tamiang.
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Daniel emphasized that successful forest rehabilitation should not be measured solely by the number of trees planted. Instead, he said, long-term success depends on sustained community involvement to protect restored areas from renewed encroachment and degradation.
He noted that many forest rehabilitation programs remain focused on meeting planting targets, while post-restoration maintenance often receives insufficient attention. As a result, some rehabilitated areas have deteriorated again due to weak monitoring and limited incentives for communities living near forest areas.
To address these challenges, Daniel urged the Ministry of Forestry to develop a Community-Based Forest Landscape Restoration program that integrates stronger local institutions, social forestry initiatives, watershed rehabilitation, and the use of native tree species with both ecological and economic value.
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He also proposed establishing a National Forest Restoration Monitoring System that combines satellite imagery, drone technology, and community reporting to track restoration progress, assess vegetation growth, and detect illegal encroachment at an early stage.
In addition, Daniel called for greater participation from young people, universities, environmental organizations, and civil society through expanded conservation partnerships. He stressed that forest restoration should ultimately be measured by the recovery of ecological functions, improved livelihoods for surrounding communities, and stronger environmental, water, and food security. (P2)
