South Kalimantan Forestry Service Cracks Down on Illegal Gold Mining in Tahura Sultan Adam

A persuasive approach is still prioritised to avoid potential social conflicts. Banjarbaru (ANTARA) - The South Kalimantan Provincial Forestry Service has cracked down on unlicensed gold mining activities (PETI) in the Tahura Sultan Adam forest park area, Banjar Regency, as part of firm efforts to preserve conservation forests. Head of the Protection and Conservation Division for Natural Resources and Ecosystems of the South Kalimantan Forestry Service, Rudiono Herlambang, in Banjarbaru on Wednesday, stated that the enforcement was carried out by the Forest Area Security Team in the Tanjung Forest Management Resort area as a step to strengthen supervision in protected zones. “At the location, officers found several workers engaged in illegal mining activities. They were then recorded and questioned, with origins from several nearby villages such as Tanjung, Riam Pinang, Bentok, and Kiram,” he said. In the operation, he conveyed that officers secured various pieces of equipment used for PETI activities, with evidence including one diesel engine unit, three generator sets of various capacities, as well as manual tools like crowbars, hammers, saws, and gold processing carpets. As a follow-up measure, he said, officers installed warning banners at the location points to affirm the conservation area status while providing education to the public. Rudiono emphasised that the handling of the case does not stop at the initial enforcement and assured that the PETI activity will be processed to the investigation stage as part of law enforcement in forest areas. “We are continuing this case to investigation. We will not allow the ecosystem of Tahura Sultan Adam to be damaged by illegal activities that harm the environment and the state,” said Rudiono. The South Kalimantan Forestry Service emphasised that the crackdown is part of the local government’s commitment to the Green Revolution programme to ensure the preservation of natural resources remains intact and provides sustainable benefits to the community.