Minister of Forestry: Prabowo Committed to Wildlife Conservation, Preparing Two New Regulations
Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni stated that President Prabowo Subianto places significant emphasis on wildlife conservation and national parks.
Raja Juli noted that Prabowo is preparing several new regulations related to wildlife conservation and national parks. “The first presidential instruction concerns the rescue of Sumatran and Bornean elephant populations and habitats,” Raja Juli said following a meeting with President Prabowo at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday (12 March).
Raja Juli also mentioned that Prabowo is preparing a task force for financing national park management. The presidential instruction addresses the rescue of Sumatran elephant populations and habitats.
Raja Juli highlighted a significant decline in elephant habitats in Indonesia, decreasing from 42 to just 21 pockets. “Without serious government intervention, the destruction of these elephant habitats is inevitable,” he stated.
Raja Juli further explained the financing and management innovation task force for national parks, noting that the government is currently drafting a presidential decree to regulate the matter. He reported that Indonesia currently has 57 national parks facing severe funding constraints.
“Our national parks have become cost centres, pure expenses. They are not profit centres in the sense of generating revenue from ecotourism that could be reinvested to improve our national parks,” he said.
Raja Juli announced that Presidential Special Envoy Hashim Djojohadikusumo will serve as the task force chair. He stated that the task force will seek innovative financing and create opportunities for private sector involvement in developing Indonesia’s national parks to international standards.
“There will likely be three pilot projects from the 57 national parks. The first is Way Kambas National Park; the other two are still being discussed, possibly including Mount Rinjani, which is also extraordinarily beautiful,” he added.
Regarding the drastic decline in elephant habitats, Raja Juli revealed that Sumatran elephant corridors have experienced severe contraction. The number of elephant pockets, originally 42, has been reduced to half that amount. “In Sumatra, there are now 21 elephant pockets, down from the original 42,” he explained.
He attributed this decline to mining activities and illegal logging, which have destroyed elephant habitats. However, the government has committed to fully rescuing elephant populations and habitats. “The President has instructed relevant ministers to reconnect the fragmented corridors and address internal fragmentation within corridors,” he said.
Simultaneously, Raja Juli announced plans to construct barriers or canals at Way Kambas National Park in Lampung. He noted that Prabowo has allocated presidential assistance funds for these barriers. “The President has decided to provide presidential assistance funds to construct barriers or canals that will protect Way Kambas National Park from surrounding settlements and villages,” he explained.
Raja Juli indicated that this initiative is currently undergoing testing phases and comprehensive studies, aimed at preventing elephants from entering residential areas. “There will likely be embankments in some locations and very strong steel barriers in others. Their strength is currently being tested. These embankments will also serve as centres for community empowerment,” he concluded.