RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Ministry of Forestry, thru the Directorate General of Forest Law Enforcement, conducted simultaneous territorial patrols in four former Forest Utilization Business Licensing (PBPH) areas in North Sumatra, East Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and West Kalimantan. This step is taken to ensure that the forest areas that have returned to state control remain protected from various illegal activities, such as encroachment, illegal logging, unlicensed mining, forest fires, and unauthorized use of the area.

The Director General of Forestry Law Enforcement, Dwi Januanto Nugroho, stated that securing the former PBPH areas is part of the government's efforts to improve forest governance.

According to him, the revocation of permits must be followed by certainty of state control, area protection, and utilization regulation to prevent exploitation by parties engaged in illegal activities.

"Intensive efforts in area security and handling forestry crimes must serve as an entry point for improving forest governance. There is no good governance without strong and integrity-based law enforcement," Dwi Januanto Nugroho said in a written statement, Sunday, July 26, 2026.

Throughout 2025 to June 2026, the Ministry of Forestry has revoked 61 PBPH permits covering more than two million hectares of forest areas in 16 provinces. The government assesses that the former PBPH areas have a high vulnerability to illegal control, thus requiring security measures to protect state assets while ensuring their utilization aligns with government policies.

Meanwhile, the Director of Forestry Complaint Prevention and Handling, Yazid Nurhuda, explained that territorial patrols serve as an early detection instrument to map potential threats in forest areas while also following up on community reports. The results of the patrols form the basis for determining preventive measures, security, and law enforcement against any violations found.

"The threats in each area vary, ranging from illegal logging, unlicensed mining, land clearing, land claims, to forest fires. Therefore, we verify and assess every complaint and field finding based on the level of threat and its potential impact," he said.

The patrol, which began on July 22, 2026, involved the Forest Law Enforcement and Forest Protection Center along with the Forest Fire Control Center, the Forestry Service, the National Police, and the Indonesian National Armed Forces. In addition to scouring the area, the team also installed warning signs, mapped vulnerable points, and inventoried indications of violations as a basis for follow-up security measures.

During the patrol, officers found several indications of illegal activities, such as illegal logging, unlicensed mining, encroachment, and land clearing in several areas. The Ministry of Forestry ensures that the security of the former PBPH areas is continuously strengthened to maintain the ecological functions of the forest and protect national assets.