Govt Reclaims 300 Hectares of Elephant Corridor, Mines Found in Seblat

RRI.CO.ID, Bengkulu – The Ministry of Forestry has reclaimed approximately 300 hectares of forest in the Teramang Production Forest (HP) in Mukomuko Regency, Bengkulu, that had reportedly been encroached upon during an enforcement operation from September 10 to 16, 2026. As part of efforts to secure the Seblat Landscape, the joint team also destroyed 627 oil palm trees, demolished 22 work huts, installed 11 warning signs, and discovered mines and materials suspected of containing hazardous chemicals along a Sumatran elephant trail.

Director General of Forestry Law Enforcement, Dwi Januanto Nugroho, said the mines and suspected hazardous materials were being investigated to determine who had placed them and for what purpose. “Seblat cannot be secured through a one-time operation. The reclaimed areas must be protected from further encroachment, those benefiting from illegal occupation of the area must be investigated, and degraded habitats must be restored,” Dwi said in a statement received in Bengkulu on Thursday, September 24, 2026.

He stressed that law enforcement must go hand in hand with ecosystem restoration so that the secured areas can once again function as forests and wildlife habitats. The operation involved the Forestry Law Enforcement Agency for the Sumatra Region, the Bengkulu Natural Resources Conservation Agency, the Kerinci Seblat National Park Authority, the Bengkulu Provincial Environmental and Forestry Office, the Indonesian National Police, and the Indonesian National Defense Forces.

In addition to physical enforcement measures, the team also identified parties suspected of occupying or carrying out activities within the forest area. Information and evidence were being gathered to trace patterns of land occupation and determine further law enforcement measures based on facts and evidence. The enforcement operation in Teramang Production Forest is a continuation of the Seblat Landscape Red-and-White Joint Operation conducted by the Ministry of Forestry since 2025. During the 2025 operation, the joint team reclaimed approximately 8,200 hectares of encroached forest, destroyed 24,100 oil palm trees, demolished 186 work huts, dismantled seven bridges, and installed 81 warning signs.

In 2026, the operation continued in several areas still facing pressure, including the Teramang Production Forest. The Seblat Landscape remains a priority for protection because it is an important habitat for protected wildlife, including Sumatran elephants and Sumatran tigers.

Head of the Forestry Law Enforcement Agency for the Sumatra Region Hari Novianto, said reclaiming the area was not the end of the operation. He said the area must continue to be secured to prevent further encroachment, while efforts were also underway to identify parties occupying and conducting activities within the area.

“We are also investigating the mines and materials suspected to be hazardous that were found along the elephant trail, including who placed them and for what purpose. If criminal elements are found, we will pursue the case based on the facts and available evidence,” Hari said.

The reclaimed area will subsequently undergo protection and ecosystem and habitat restoration. The measures include securing the area, restoring vegetation, and strengthening habitat connectivity to restore the ecological function of the Seblat Landscape as a wildlife corridor.