Government Begins Reforestation of 2,557 Hectares in Tesso Nilo, Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni: The Prabowo Era Marks a Turning Point
RESTORATION in the Tesso Nilo National Park has officially begun. Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni described this as part of an ecosystem recovery effort that has long faced various challenges.
“Alhamdulillah today we are starting reforestation, greening, reforestation of Tesso Nilo National Park. This is part of the central and regional governments’ efforts to restore the ecosystem of Tesso Nilo NP,” Minister Raja Antoni said at Tesso Nilo National Park, Tuesday (3/3).
Minister Raja Antoni said the problems of Tesso Nilo are not new, but long-standing and complex. He noted that under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto the issues of Tesso Nilo can begin to be unraveled,
“The problems of Tesso Nilo are longstanding, not something that happened yesterday. They have become acute, but fortunately under the leadership of Mr. President Prabowo Subianto these problems are starting to be untangled,” he said.
He explained that a few months ago the government relocated land for communities who previously farmed in the area. This step was taken as part of a long-term solution. In addition, the government has carried out the destruction of palm oil within the Tesso Nilo National Park area.
“Friends who farm in Tesso Nilo have received replacement land as part of our efforts to find a common ground, not a point of contention. We are untangling issues, not adding knots to a thread that is already knotted,” he emphasised.
The 2026 reforestation target covers 2,557 hectares with cross-sector support. The launch event for reforestation covered an area of approximately 400 hectares with the planting of 2,000 tree saplings, as the initial stage of the total 69,000-hectare recovery target.
The reforestation launch and planting activities were also attended by the Riau Police Chief, Irjen Herry Heryawan, Acting Governor of Riau SF Haryanto, and the Deputy Minister of Environment Diaz Hendropriono.
“God willing, with the support of all parties, especially the Governor, the Pangdam, the Kajati, the Kapolda, the Regent, and all stakeholders, the Tesso Nilo National Park, which is very rich and famous in the world, will be able to be restored. God willing, our children and grandchildren will receive the blessings of what we are doing today,” concluded Raja Juli Antoni. (Ant/P-3)
An infant Sumatran elephant from a wild population was found dead in the Tesso Nilo National Park area, specifically at the Lancang Kuning Resort, Section PTN Area I.
A suspect was caught while processing timber using a chainsaw at the Air Sawan Resort, Lubuk Kembang Bunga Village, Ukui District, on 21 January 2026.
The Ministry of Environment and Forestry officially began land relocation activities and ecosystem restoration at Tesso Nilo NP (TNTN). The activity was marked by the clearing of palm oil and tree planting.
Raja Juli Antoni emphasised that the government will not use violence in enforcing the conservation area.
Penalties include a minimum prison sentence of 3 years and a maximum of 15 years, and a minimum fine of Rp 200,000,000 and a maximum of Rp 5,000,000,000.
Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni urged followers to love the forest through a tree-planting movement, and handed over 1,015 productive saplings.
A total of 833 hectares of social forestry land was allocated by the Forestry Minister to four Forest Farmers Groups in the IKN area.
The PSI Secretary General and concurrently Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni stated that Islamic teachings provide a strong theological basis to protect the environment and forests within an eco-theology framework.
Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni warned that there will be no tolerance for perpetrators of elephant killings found dead with mutilation.
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