WALHI Demands Comprehensive Environmental Restoration in Lawsuit Against PT TPL
The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (WALHI) is urging the panel of judges to accept its request for an intervention plea in the lawsuit filed by the Ministry of Environment (KLH) against PT Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL). This step is taken to ensure the environmental restoration process is carried out comprehensively and is not limited to the initial lawsuit’s object.
WALHI North Sumatra Regional Executive Director, Rianda Purba, asserted that PT TPL’s activities have significantly altered the landscape through the development of monoculture crops such as eucalyptus and pine. This transformation is considered to have a detrimental impact on the area’s ecological functions.
‘The transformation of eucalyptus and pine trees as raw material for paper by PT TPL has caused soil erosion and triggered flooding when Cyclone Senyar occurred,’ Rianda told Media Indonesia on Wednesday.
Beyond environmental damage, Rianda highlighted the loss of livelihood sources for indigenous communities due to the clearing of forests that previously produced frankincense. He believes the state has a historical responsibility to revoke PT TPL’s permit, as the policy is deemed to have been misguided from the start.
From a hydrological perspective, the eucalyptus plants are considered incapable of supporting water absorption compared to the original natural forest habitat. This has triggered flooding in several river basins (DAS) around the company’s operational area, such as Batang Toru and Central Tapanuli.
National WALHI Attorney Teo Reffelsen added that the current lawsuit filed by the Ministry of Environment only covers an area of 1,200 hectares. According to him, this scope does not yet address the full ecological impact occurring in the concession area and other affected regions.
‘Downstream areas affected by flooding should also be the responsibility of PT TPL. There are about 15,000 hectares of the Batang Toru orangutan habitat that have also been impacted,’ Teo revealed.
WALHI views that environmental restoration must not be partial. Real impacts such as flooding, landslides, and the loss of community settlements must be key points in holding the company accountable. The intervention plea hearing is expected to be decided soon, with the Ministry of Environment not objecting to WALHI’s involvement, while PT TPL has rejected the motion.
‘We ask the panel of judges not to hesitate to accept WALHI as an intervening party. If in doubt, it is better to choose the interests of the environment,’ Teo stressed. Echoing this, Audo Sinaga from the Environmental Lawyers Network (JPL) emphasised the importance of the state’s presence as a mediator in resolving this environmental conflict. WALHI hopes that through their involvement, law enforcement can achieve comprehensive ecological restoration for the North Sumatra region.