Antara News·Indonesia·Thursday, September 24, 2026 at 09:04 AM

Forestry Ministry reclaims 300 ha in Bengkulu elephant corridor

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Prisca Triferna, Resinta Sulistiyandari

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Forestry Ministry reclaimed approximately 300 hectares of land, destroyed hundreds of oil palm trees, and discovered landmines in Teramang Production Forest, Bengkulu, part of the Seblat Landscape elephant corridor.

Hari Novianto, head of the ministry's Law Enforcement Agency for the Sumatra Region, said a joint operation conducted Sept. 10–16 resulted in the destruction of 627 oil palm trees and the demolition of 22 work huts.

Additionally, the team installed 11 prohibition signs and discovered landmines and materials suspected of containing hazardous chemicals along a path used by Sumatran elephants (Elephas maximus sumatranus).

"After reclaiming the area, we must ensure it is not occupied again. We are also identifying those who controlled and operated in the area. We are investigating the landmines and suspected hazardous materials found along the elephant path, including who placed them and why," Novianto stated on Thursday.

He explained that the operation involved the Forestry Law Enforcement Agency (Sumatra Region), Bengkulu Natural Resources Conservation Agency, Kerinci Seblat National Park Agency, Bengkulu Provincial Environment and Forestry Agency, National Police, and Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI).

Beyond physical enforcement, the team identified parties suspected of controlling or carrying out activities in the forest, with information and evidence gathering ongoing to establish patterns of land occupation and determine legal action, Novianto added.

The enforcement action in Teramang Production Forest is a continuation of the Merah Putih Joint Operation in the Seblat Landscape, which the ministry has operated since 2025.

In 2025, the joint team reclaimed approximately 8,200 hectares of encroached forest land, destroyed 24,100 oil palm trees, demolished 186 work huts, dismantled seven bridges, installed 81 prohibition signs, and seized heavy machinery and tools.

In the same statement, Dwi Januanto Nugroho, the ministry's Director General of Law Enforcement, said efforts to protect the Seblat Landscape must go beyond enforcement operations to encompass sustained security and restoration measures.

"Law enforcement must therefore go hand in hand with ecosystem restoration to ensure that the areas we have protected regain their function as forests and wildlife habitats while continuing to provide ecological benefits to surrounding communities," Nugroho pointed out.

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