Forestry Ministry Prepares New Strategy to Dismantle Wildlife Trade Networks
The Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut) is pushing for a change in law enforcement strategy against the illegal trade of plants and wildlife (TSL) by targeting the main actors and the economic profits behind the crime. This approach is deemed necessary because wildlife trade has now developed into an organised and cross-sectoral crime that cannot be adequately addressed merely by ensnaring perpetrators in the field.
The change in approach was discussed at the Multistakeholder Meeting on Integrated Forestry and Wildlife Law Enforcement organised by the Directorate General of Forestry Law Enforcement together with the Law Enforcement for Sustainable Viable Ecosystems and Biodiversity Resilience through Multi-Sectors Engagement (LEVERAGE) programme in Bogor on 7-8 August 2026.
The forum brought together law enforcement elements and stakeholders from various sectors, ranging from Civil Servant Investigators (PPNS) across ministries and agencies, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the Police, the Attorney General’s Office, the Judiciary, to academics. The discussion focused on the use of a multidoor approach to handle forestry crimes and illegal wildlife trade.
Director General of Forestry Law Enforcement Dwi Januanto Nugroho said the multidoor approach is necessary to dismantle criminal networks that are not only related to forestry violations, but can also intersect with corruption, taxation, customs, and financial services offences.
“The multidoor approach is becoming increasingly important. Various available legal instruments need to be utilised optimally, including corruption, taxation, customs, and financial services offences. With this approach, we can expand the space for law enforcement while increasing leverage in dismantling larger criminal networks,” said Dwi.
According to Dwi, law enforcement against forestry and wildlife crimes also needs to shift from merely punishing perpetrators to efforts to sever the economic profits that allow such crimes to continue.
“We need to place asset recovery, severing the economic profits from crime, and forensic science support as key parts of the strategy. Effective law enforcement is not only measured by the number of perpetrators convicted, but by the state’s ability to build precise scientific evidence and eliminate the economic motivation of the crime,” he stressed.
Indonesia, as a megabiodiversity country, faces threats from organised illegal wildlife trade involving cross-regional networks. The crime not only impacts ecosystem sustainability and biodiversity, but also causes economic losses and requires an investigation process involving various legal provisions.
Therefore, the forum encouraged a reorientation of law enforcement from an approach focused on field perpetrators towards action against wider networks, including parties who obtain economic benefits from illegal activities or beneficial owners.
A number of strategic steps were then formulated, including encouraging the establishment of an Integrated Law Enforcement Task Force (Satgas Gakkum) to handle high-risk and large-scale illegal wildlife trade cases. The forum also encouraged the preparation of integrated operational procedures to clarify coordination among law enforcers.
In addition, strengthening regulations and increasing human resource capacity were of concern. Training for PPNS will be strengthened, especially regarding the multidoor approach, asset recovery, and recovery of ecosystem losses.
Director of Forestry Criminal Enforcement Rudianto Saragih Napitu said integrated law enforcement requires a change in working patterns between agencies, not just coordination when a case has already occurred.
“This integration must be realised through sustainable human resource capacity building, strengthening PPNS communication platforms, and the establishment of a Special Task Force for handling Money Laundering (TPPU) and asset tracing (asset recovery). Cross-sector synergy is the main key in optimising investigation, inquiry, and environmental recovery,” stressed Rudianto.
The forum also involved a number of law enforcement elements and related institutions, including the Attorney General’s Office, KPK, Police, Supreme Court, Directorate General of Taxes, OJK, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Customs and Excise, Quarantine, and academics from UGM and UNESA.
As a follow-up, the Directorate General of Forestry Law Enforcement together with the LEVERAGE programme will publish a study document on the challenges of investigating illegal wildlife trade crimes. The document will serve as a common reference in strengthening case handling and building a more integrated law enforcement pattern.
With this approach, the handling of illegal wildlife trade is expected not to stop at action against field perpetrators, but also to be able to dismantle networks, sever economic profits, trace assets, and strengthen ecosystem recovery and the protection of Indonesia’s biodiversity.