Forestry Ministry secures around 40 hectares of TNBBS core zone from encroachment
From the 12 people detained, four have been named as suspects and are being held in custody, while the other eight remain witnesses as their roles are further investigated.
Bengkulu (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Forestry, through the Sumatra Regional Forestry Law Enforcement Unit (Gakkum Kehutanan) together with the Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park Agency (TNBBS), the Bengkulu Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) and the Bengkulu Regional Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob), has secured around 40 hectares of the TNBBS core zone from illegal encroachment activities.
“From the 12 people detained, four have been named as suspects and are being held in custody, while the other eight remain witnesses as their roles are further investigated,” said Head of the Sumatra Regional Forestry Law Enforcement Unit Hari Novianto in his statement in Bengkulu on Saturday.
The four suspects have the initials TS (39), HY (63), SF (41), and S (54). All four have been detained at the Bengkulu Regional Police detention centre after investigators conducted an investigation and case review together with the Bengkulu Regional Police supervisory coordination unit.
“Among the eight witnesses, there is one person suspected of being an individual from a certain institution and we have handed them over to the relevant institution for examination and further processing in accordance with applicable regulations,” he said.
In the operation, officers seized nine chainsaw units, five chainsaw chains or bars, three fishing nets, three fish traps, one solar panel, and a number of garden tools.
Officers also found one air rifle, two homemade firearms and a quantity of ammunition. The ammunition evidence found consisted of 11 cartridge cases of 7.62 MO PIN calibre, three bullets of 7.62 CM PIN calibre, six bullets of 5.56 CA PIN calibre and two bullets of 5.56 MT PIN calibre, suspected to be related to hunting activities.
In addition to equipment and weapons, officers found two huts or shacks inside the forest area. One of the buildings measured around 72 square metres and was equipped with a solar panel.
For both buildings, he said, warning signs have been installed stating that the location is within a conservation area and prohibiting activities that do not comply with statutory regulations.
Based on field examination, investigators found an alleged encroachment method involving the conversion of forest area into oil palm and coffee plantations. Trees within the area were allegedly felled using chainsaws, and the area was then cleared by burning to open up land.
Some of the cleared land was found to have already been planted with oil palm and coffee. Around the huts, investigators also found nurseries of oil palm and coffee seedlings suspected to have been prepared for planting within the area. Investigators also found oil palm seedlings brought in from outside the area to be planted on the cleared land.
The uncovering of this activity began with a patrol by the TNBBS Agency that found activities within the forest area. Forest police had previously issued persuasive warnings for the activities to be stopped and for those at the location to leave the area.
For this case, the four suspects are charged with violating Article 78 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 50 paragraph (3) letter a of Law Number 41 of 1999 concerning Forestry as last amended by Law Number 6 of 2023 in conjunction with Article 20 letter c of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code in conjunction with Law Number 1 of 2026 concerning Criminal Adjustments.
The article carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years and/or a maximum fine of Rp2 billion.
Hari expressed appreciation for the support of the Bengkulu Regional Police Mobile Brigade, the Bengkulu Regional Police Special Criminal Investigation Directorate, the Bengkulu High Prosecutor’s Office, the TNBBS Agency, the Bengkulu BKSDA and the community in securing the area from threats of encroachment, illegal logging, forest burning and wildlife poaching.
“Synergy among all parties is very important to ensure that conservation areas remain protected,” he said.
Director General of Forestry Law Enforcement Dwi Januanto Nugroho said the protection of TNBBS is part of the state’s responsibility in safeguarding Indonesia’s natural wealth.
“Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park is part of the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra, which has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is an important habitat for Sumatran tigers, Sumatran elephants, and Sumatran rhinoceroses,” he said.
He stressed that the Ministry of Forestry will continue to ensure conservation areas are protected from illegal activities through patrols, prevention, enforcement and collaboration with law enforcement officials, area managers and the community.