Authorities Clear Illegal Oil Palm Plantation in Southwest Aceh Forest

KBRN, Blang Pidie: A joint team from various forestry agencies and security forces cleared dozens of illegal oil palm plantations found within the Babahrot Subdistrict forest area in Southwest Aceh Regency, Aceh. Oil palm cultivation in the area is considered a threat to social forestry schemes and violates forest management regulations.

Syukramizar, Acting Head of the Technical Guidance and Forest Protection Section of the Forest Management Unit (KPH) Region IX Aceh, explained that oil palm cultivation in forest areas is expressly prohibited by regulations.

"According to Minister of Environment and Forestry Regulation No.9/2021 concerning Social Forestry Management, holders of management permits are prohibited from planting oil palms in social forestry areas," he said in Abdya on Saturday, November 15, 2025, as quoted by Antara.

The enforcement operation was carried out after forest farmer group administrators, who were applying for social forestry management permits, reported the presence of oil palm plantations in their proposed work areas. They feared the presence of these oil palm plantations would hamper community empowerment programs and disrupt the forest ecosystem.

Twenty joint personnel were deployed during the enforcement operation, consisting of forestry police, civil servant investigators, forestry security personnel, and members of the Indonesian National Military Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian National Police (Polri). The team ensured that the areas affected by illegal oil palm plantations were placed under strict surveillance again to prevent the expansion of similar activities.

The joint personnel were deployed to identify and dismantle 18.5 hectares of oil palm plantations spread from kilometer 18 to kilometer 25 of the road between Southwest Aceh Regency and Gayo Lues Regency.

"Thank God, the enforcement proceeded smoothly and safely. The location being regulated is within the social forestry application area of three forest farmer groups currently in the permit application process," said Syukramizar.

The three forest farmer groups (KTH) applying for social forestry permits are KTH Sejahtera Bersama, KTH Tuah Nanggroe, and KTH Tuah Seudong Rimba. The three forest farmer groups underwent technical verification by the Social Forestry Center (BPS), the Forest Area Stabilization Center (BPKH), and the Aceh Forestry Environment Service in August 2025.

Prior to the enforcement, he said, his team had conducted outreach and issued warnings to communities planting oil palms in forest areas in the region.

"We have also urged the community to independently remove or regulate illegally planted oil palm plantations," said Syukramizar.

He also urged the public to preserve forests and refrain from illegal activities such as encroachment, illegal logging, or the cultivation of non-forestry commodities.

"If you want to plant oil palms, do so outside social forest areas. Forest areas should be planted with multipurpose trees such as durian, avocado, petai, jengkol, and others," said Syukramizar.