Prabowo Establishes Task Force to Combat Forest Area Violations
The Forest Area Order Task Force operates directly under President Prabowo's authority. Find out their responsibilities here.
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian government, through Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 5 of 2025, has established a Task Force to control and protect forest areas. President formed this task force with a crucial mission: to eradicate illegal activities within forest areas, improve land management practices, and maximize state revenue from these resources.
The Forest Area Order Task Force operates directly under the President's authority. Its organizational structure includes a Director, led by Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, and an Executive body chaired by the Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes from the Attorney General's Office.
In his role as Director, the Defense Minister is assisted by Attorney General Sanitiar Burhanuddin, Commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) General Agus Subiyanto, Chief of the National Police General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, and several ministers, including the Minister of Forestry, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, and the Minister of Agrarian Affairs. This group is responsible for providing strategic guidance and evaluating the effectiveness of the Task Force's efforts.
Article 11, paragraph 2 of the Perpres outlines the responsibilities of the Task Force Implementers. These responsibilities include an inventory of state assets by identifying and documenting illegally occupied land in forest areas; law enforcement, by pursuing legal action, including criminal, civil, and administrative measures, against individuals or entities involved in forest area violations; and asset recovery by recovering and returning illegally occupied forest areas to the state.
The Task Force Implementers include officials from various ministries, such as the Director General of Forestry, the Director General of Plantations, and the Deputy for Investigation of the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency.
The Task Force has the authority to investigate and take action against illegal activities within forest areas, such as unauthorized mining and plantation operations. Penalties for violations can range from administrative fines to criminal prosecution according to applicable laws.
To support its duties, the Task Force can collaborate with academics, community groups, and the private sector. President Prabowo hoped that inter-agency cooperation could strengthen the successful implementation of this policy.
The Forest Area Order Task Force is also required to submit a report to the President every six months, detailing its progress and evaluating the effectiveness of its actions.
This initiative demonstrates the government's commitment to protecting the environment, eradicating illegal practices within , and optimizing state revenue from the forestry sector.
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