Prabowo Prepares Two Strategic Policies

RI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni, reported the results of his meeting with President Prabowo Subianto at the State Palace, Jakarta, Thursday, March 12, 2026. In the meeting, the President prepared two strategic policies to strengthen efforts in wildlife conservation and the management of conservation areas in Indonesia.

The first policy is the Presidential Instruction (Inpres) on the conservation of the Sumatran elephant and Bornean elephant populations and habitats. This policy is considered important given the significant decline in the number of elephant habitat pockets in recent decades.

"We checked the elephant pockets that used to number 42, now only 21 remain, and if there is no serious intervention by the government, the destruction of these elephant pockets is inevitable," the Minister of Forestry stated.

Thru the presidential instruction, the President will instruct relevant ministries and agencies to support the Ministry of Forestry in maintaining the elephant population, including the establishment of preservation areas and habitat corridors that allow elephants to move between habitat pockets and prevent population fragmentation.

"For example, in HGU where palm oil permits have been issued in Sumatra, what is called a preservation area will be established. A preservation area is a region that allows for elephant corridors between these pockets, so that elephants can move from one pocket to another, which is very important," Antoni conveyed.

In addition, the President is also preparing a Presidential Decree (Keppres) to establish the Task Force (Satgas) for Innovation in Financing and Management of National Parks. This task force will seek sustainable funding schemes so that the management of national parks can be more optimal and provide benefits for nature conservation and community welfare.

"This task force will later be led by Mr. Hashim Djoyohadikusumo, and I will serve as the deputy along with other deputies, including Mrs. Maria Eka Pengestu." We will seek innovative and sustainable funding, including involving the private sector, so that once again our national parks become world-class national parks," he said.

Indonesia currently has 57 national parks that are important areas for biodiversity conservation. The government believes that a new approach to financing and management is needed so that national parks not only become conservation centers but also support the development of sustainable ecotourism.

As an initial step, the government will prepare several pilot projects for national park management, one of which will be in the Way Kambas National Park area. This program will also address the conflicts between humans and elephants that have been occurring in the vicinity of the national park thru the construction of fences or barrier canals, as well as community empowerment programs.