Tito Says Forestry Minister's Decree on the Use of Disaster-Affected Timber Will Accelerate Recovery in Sumatra

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Head of the Task Force for Accelerating Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (PRR) in the Sumatra disaster area, Muhammad Tito Karnavian, affirmed that the issuance of the Forestry Minister’s Decree No. 191 of 2026 has a positive impact on accelerating the rehabilitation and reconstruction process in the affected areas.

The decree provides a legal basis, allowing timber washed away by floods and landslides to be used optimally to support the reconstruction of infrastructure and community housing.

“In Aceh, there is a vast amount of it. It’s like an ocean. An ocean of what? Timber. So, if you want to use it for firewood, it’s easy,” said Tito in a statement on Thursday (26/2/2026).

This is because large piles of timber are still found in Aceh, having been carried by the floods.

Some of the timber can be processed into logs for planks and construction materials, while timber that cannot be processed into building materials can be used for other purposes.

“The timber can be used or given to the regents/mayors in coordination with the governor. I have conveyed this to the Forestry Minister during the meeting yesterday. The Forestry Minister has issued the decree,” said Tito.

The Forestry Minister’s decree details the types of timber that can be used, including roundwood or debris resulting from natural disasters.

With this legal basis, the washed-up timber can be used for the construction of public facilities and social facilities for affected communities, as well as for the construction of housing for affected communities.

The use of the timber will be carried out by the regents and mayors in coordination with the governor.

To ensure that the timber scattered in the disaster areas is used appropriately, the regents and/or mayors must report their activities to the governor, with a copy sent to the Head of the PRR Task Force in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.

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