Jakarta – Authorities have arrested two suspects and seized illegal oil palm plantations in the Seblat landscape, as part of a broader crackdown on forest encroachment threatening critical habitat for the Sumatran elephant, the Ministry of Forestry said Monday, April 27.
In separate operations, the forestry law enforcement unit under the ministry detained two individuals identified as S (58) and D (40) for illegally clearing and occupying forest land in the Seblat area in Bengkulu province.
The first suspect, S, was found to have managed an approximately 30-hectare oil palm plantation inside a production forest area in Air Rami, Mukomuko regency. Authorities seized an excavator, a hut, and documents linked to illegal land transactions.
In a separate case, D was arrested for encroaching on land within a key elephant corridor in the Taman Wisata Alam Seblat. The arrest followed a joint operation involving forestry officials, local conservation agencies, and security forces, during which officers faced resistance from unidentified individuals.
Officials said the operations are part of the “Operasi Merah Putih” initiative to restore and secure the Bentang Alam Seblat, a landscape considered vital for the survival of the endangered Sumatran elephant.
The Director General of Forestry Law Enforcement, Dwi Januanto Nugroho, said that he will not compromise with those who damage forest ecosystems, adding that the government will also rehabilitate degraded land and strengthen boundary management in the area.
Both suspects face up to 10 years in prison and billions of rupiah in fines under Indonesia’s forestry and conservation laws. Authorities said investigations are ongoing to identify other actors involved in the illegal activities. (nsh)
Banner photo: Authorities arrested two suspects and seized illegal oil palm plantations in the Seblat landscape, Sumatra. Source: Ministry of Forestry
