Forestry Ministry sanctions 42 PBPH over forest fires, 9 cases enter criminal process

The Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut) is strengthening supervision and law enforcement against holders of Forest Utilisation Business Permits (PBPH) in relation to forest and land fires (karhutla), with action now taken against 42 PBPH and nine criminal cases underway.

According to an official statement received in Jakarta on Tuesday, Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni, during a working meeting with Commission IV of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), explained that of the 42 legal subjects, 13 PBPH have been issued warning letters related to hotspot detection and reporting obligations.

“We can report that there are 13 legal subjects (PBPH) that have been issued warning letters related to hotspot detection and reporting obligations, and 14 legal subjects (PBPH) that are under supervision and have been subject to administrative sanctions in the form of written reprimands related to forest fire violations,” said Minister Raja Antoni.

In addition to imposing sanctions, Kemenhut is also monitoring the preparedness of forestry permit holders in facing potential forest and land fires. To date, preparedness monitoring has been carried out on 15 PBPH holders.

Minister Raja Antoni further stated that there are currently nine cases in the law enforcement process.

“In line with that, law enforcement operations are ongoing in nine cases, of which four cases have resulted in the naming of suspects — three cases in Riau and one in West Kalimantan,” he said.

In addition to the four cases where suspects have been named, there are two cases in the investigation stage in West Kalimantan and one case in the P-19 process, or case file completion, in North Sumatra.

Meanwhile, investigations are also underway in connection with fires that occurred in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park and Mount Gede Pangrango National Park. Kemenhut has assured that all law enforcement processes are proceeding in accordance with the applicable stages and provisions.

Minister Raja Antoni emphasised that the supervision and law enforcement are part of Kemenhut’s efforts to prevent forest and land fires and to ensure that forestry permit holders fulfil their obligations.

“To date, the realisation of fire preparedness monitoring of forestry permit holders has been carried out on 15 PBPH holders,” said Raja Juli Antoni.