Parliaments Reaffirm Mount Merapi Climbing Ban, Prioritize Public Safety

RRI.CO.ID, Sleman - Indonesia's House of Representatives (DPR) reaffirmed the ban on climbing Mount Merapi, located on the border between the Special Region of Yogyakarta and Central Java, during a group visit to Mount Merapi National Park in Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta, on Friday, July 10, 2026. The visit was conducted to review the management of the conservation area, including ecosystem protection, disaster mitigation, and efforts to address illegal hiking and illegal mining activities.

During the visit, a member of the House, Alex Indra Lukman, stressed that public safety must remain the top priority in all policies governing the protected area. He said the government's decision to prohibit climbing had been made with safety considerations in mind.

"That is why the rule must be enforced firmly. If climbing is prohibited, then it is prohibited—period. There should be no exceptions," Alex said, as quoted from the DPR's website.

He added that restrictions on activities around Mount Merapi should be accompanied by alternative livelihood opportunities for local communities, particularly those who have long depended on the mountain for their income.

"Whenever such a ban is imposed, it should also be accompanied by options that allow people living around Merapi to continue earning a livelihood from the area, but in ways that are safe," he said.

Alex also said the House supports stronger law enforcement against illegal mining, which threatens the conservation area's ecological sustainability. According to him, the Ministry of Forestry and law enforcement agencies should take proactive measures to curb illegal activities while ensuring that the management of Mount Merapi National Park continues to prioritize both public safety and environmental protection.

Mount Merapi, one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes, has been closed to climbers since May 22, 2018, until further notice. The restriction was imposed due to the volcano's continued high level of activity under Alert (Level III) status issued by the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (BPPTKG).