Beyond elephant rescue presidential instruction, Prabowo prepares task force decree

Jakarta — President Prabowo Subianto is preparing a presidential instruction (Inpres) concerning the conservation of Sumatran and Bornean elephant populations and habitats, along with a presidential decree (Keppres) on establishing a task force for innovative financing in national park management.

The Presidential Secretariat in Jakarta announced on Thursday that the President called Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni to Merdeka Palace to discuss strategic measures for strengthening wildlife conservation efforts and national park management across Indonesia.

“Without serious government intervention, the deterioration of elephant habitats is inevitable,” Raja Juli said following his meeting with President Prabowo.

According to Raja Juli, the presidential instruction represents a critical step to save elephant populations currently facing serious threats due to the shrinking of their natural habitats.

He emphasised that without serious intervention from the government, habitat destruction could spread further and threaten the survival of the species.

“Therefore, the elephant population, as a protected species and iconic fauna of Indonesia, faces the possibility of extinction,” he said.

Through the presidential instruction, President Prabowo will issue directives to relevant ministries to support the Forestry Ministry in elephant conservation efforts, including establishing wildlife corridors that allow elephant movement between regions.

Additionally, the government will create corridors within elephant habitat zones to expand the animals’ range and prevent inbreeding that could threaten population sustainability.

“For example, in land-use permits already issued, palm oil operations in Sumatra will have what we call preservation areas. These preservation areas are zones that allow elephant corridors between habitat pockets, enabling elephants to move from one pocket to another,” Raja Juli said.

During the meeting, Raja Juli also noted President Prabowo’s concrete steps to support elephant habitat conservation, including the donation of 90,000 hectares of his own land for conservation purposes.

Beyond elephant conservation policy, President Prabowo is also preparing a presidential decree to establish the Task Force for Innovative Financing and National Park Management.

The task force aims to promote more sustainable funding models for national park management in Indonesia.

“We will seek innovative and sustainable funding, including engaging the private sector so that once again our national parks become world-class parks, with forests protected and preserved, whilst the wildlife that makes us proud and constitutes our nation’s wealth can also be properly safeguarded,” he said.

As an initial step, the government will prepare pilot projects for national park management, including one at Way Kambas National Park in Lampung.

Raja Juli also disclosed that President Prabowo has allocated presidential assistance funds to address human-wildlife conflicts that frequently occur in the area.

“He has decided to provide presidential aid to construct fencing or channels that will separate Way Kambas National Park from the settlements and villages along the park in Lampung,” he said.

Raja Juli emphasised that these measures demonstrate President Prabowo’s strong commitment to preserving Indonesia’s natural environment and wildlife.

“This once again shows that President Prabowo Subianto, as conservation activists have said, is the most concerned president in Indonesia’s history regarding elephant conservation in Indonesia,” he said.