Ministry of Forestry Relaunches Combined Red and White Operation for Seblat Landscape
Jakarta — The Ministry of Forestry has relaunched the Combined Red and White Operation for the Seblat Landscape in Bengkulu, ensuring the area remains protected, functions as a primary corridor for Sumatran elephants (Elephas maximus sumatranus), and supports the livelihoods of surrounding communities.
Dwi Januanto Nugroho, Director-General of Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Forestry, confirmed in a statement from Jakarta on Monday that the operation represents a continuation of the Red and White Seblat Landscape Operation conducted from November through 31 December 2025.
“This operation is designed to break the illegal encroachment business chain without harming ordinary citizens. The government firmly targets landowners, financiers, and heavy equipment operators as the primary enforcement targets, whilst cooperative communities are directed to resolve land acquisition in an orderly manner consistent with regulations,” he said.
In addition to criminal law enforcement, the Directorate-General of Forestry Law Enforcement has conducted oversight and prepared the implementation of administrative sanctions against business permit holders who violate forestry regulations, as well as civil enforcement measures to ensure forest area restoration and recovery of state losses.
The 2026 Combined Red and White Operation for the Seblat Landscape began on 5 March, involving a joint team comprising the Sumatran Forestry Law Enforcement Centre, the Kerinci Seblat National Park Authority, the Bengkulu Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), the Bengkulu Provincial Environment and Forestry Service and the Bengkulu Utara Forestry Management Unit, the Mukomuko Police District, and the Bengkulu Utara Police District.
Authorities also secured evidence including one bulldozer, one excavator, and plantation equipment.
Investigators have completed investigations into three forest encroachment cases in the Seblat landscape and the suspects are currently undergoing trial at Mukomoko District Court.
Hari Novianto, Head of the Sumatran Forestry Law Enforcement Centre, stated that this year’s operation will focus on the Seblat Nature Tourism Park, Ipuh Water Production Forest, Teramang Production Forest, and the Kerinci Seblat National Park area.
Forestry law enforcement will continue clearing and reclaiming the Seblat Natural Landscape Area in Bengkulu Province, spanning approximately 80,978 hectares, which serves as critical habitat for various protected wildlife species, including Sumatran elephants and Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris sumatrae), whose populations are currently threatened by illegal forest encroachment and logging activities.
The Directorate-General of Forestry Law Enforcement has also prioritised a persuasive approach towards cooperative communities. Several residents in nearby villages have been questioned, and three have expressed willingness to return land they occupy to the government through formal statements.
Authorities have also requested statements from village officials and local government representatives to clarify land tenure status and the chain of land sales transactions.