KBRN, Jakarta: The Indonesian Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut) has officially authorized the use of washed-away timber found at disaster sites for emergency needs. Director General of Sustainable Forest Management (PHL) Laksmi Wijayanti confirmed the decision in a statement received in Padang on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, emphasizing that strict legal and misuse prevention mechanisms must accompany the utilization of this material.

"The utilization of washed-away timber for emergency disaster handling, post-disaster rehabilitation and recovery, as well as material aid for affected communities for the construction of facilities and infrastructure, can be implemented based on the principle of public safety and humanity," Laksmi emphasized, as quoted by Antara.

However, she stressed that this utilization is not unregulated. The timber carried by the floodwaters has a clear legal status.

Laksmi explained that the swept-away logs are categorized as "found timber," and their handling mechanism must adhere to Law No. 18/2013 on the Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction. Therefore, the implementation of utilization must uphold the principles of traceability and accountability.

Consequently, any utilization of this flood timber is mandatory to follow reporting and recording procedures to prevent opening loopholes for illegal logging or timber laundering practices leveraging the disaster moment. The Ministry ensured that the distribution of flood timber for public benefit would not be unilateral. Laksmi clarified that the process must be conducted through a cross-institutional collaboration.

"The distribution and utilization of washed-away timber for post-disaster handling and recovery shall be organized jointly and in an integrated manner between the Ministry of Forestry and relevant agencies in the provincial administration, district/city administration, and various law enforcement elements," she noted.

This integrated approach is crucial to avoid overlapping authority and ensure the timber genuinely reaches the communities in need. In addition to regulating the use of flood timber, the government is taking decisive steps to prevent illegal practices during the emergency situation.

"The activities for utilizing and transporting logs originating from forest utilization sites in the three provinces are temporarily suspended until further notice," said Laksmi.

This temporary suspension is intended to prevent potential illegal logging disguised as flood-swept timber, clarify the source of circulating wood material, and ensure that authorities and the public focus solely on disaster management. In the context of recovery, this timber becomes an asset that can expedite reconstruction and offers a practical solution amid limited logistical access to affected areas.

Nonetheless, its utilization remains under strict supervision, and by combining a humanitarian approach with the principle of traceability, the government seeks to ensure that every log used truly benefits the community and does not become an opportunity for those attempting to take profit from the disaster. ***