House Commission III Hopes Additional Forest Rangers Can Eradicate Forest Crime

Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Commission III, Ahmad Sahroni, hopes that the addition of 70,000 forest ranger personnel proposed by President Prabowo Subianto will be able to eradicate various forms of crime within the forestry sector. He expressed support for the initiative to protect forests as a strategic national asset, stating that the move demonstrates the state’s commitment to safeguarding the environment. “We know that one of the most crucial points in our environmental issues is law enforcement,” Sahroni said in a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday. He noted that perpetrators of illegal logging, forest fires, and the setting of traps for protected wildlife have so far been able to act with impunity within the forests. To address this, he requested that the Ministry of Forestry cooperate with the Indonesian National Police to provide training and briefings to the forest rangers. According to him, the police’s experience in law enforcement will be a very important asset for personnel in the field. “With strong synergy between the Ministry of Forestry, the Police, and other related parties, I am confident that the handling of environmental crimes will be much more effective. These forests are a legacy for our children’s future, so their protection must be maximised,” Sahroni said. Previously, the President’s Special Envoy for Energy and Climate, Hashim Djojohadikusumo, stated that the government has set a major target to strengthen the capacity of forest rangers from around 5,000 personnel to 70,000 personnel in stages. “Mr Prabowo has decided to protect these very valuable forests. The special forestry police, known abroad as forest rangers, will be increased from 5,000 officers to 70,000 officers to guard them,” Hashim said in Jakarta on Tuesday. He mentioned that the Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni, has already begun implementing the policy through phased recruitment. According to Hashim, the ministry’s swift action demonstrates the government’s seriousness in strengthening the protection of forest areas.