InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA — The Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni, announced a collaboration with the Ministry of Defense (Kemenhan) to inspect palm oil plantations within forest areas. This initiative aims to verify land usage compliance and ensure forest conservation.
“We have sought approval and coordinated with the Minister of Defense, Mr. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, to conduct field inspections related to palm oil coverage, including ownership of plantations within forest zones. We are requesting assistance from the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) for direct ground checks,” Raja Juli Antoni said following a meeting with the Defense Minister in Jakarta on Tuesday.
The collaboration between the Ministry of Forestry and the Ministry of Defense, involving TNI, is expected to strengthen satellite imagery data provided by the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP). Accurate data is critical to confirm the presence of palm oil plantations in forest areas.
During a one-hour meeting at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) office, both parties also discussed plans to allocate specific forest areas for military training activities.
“We will make efforts to designate certain forest lands for TNI use,” he stated, as quoted by InfoSAWIT from Antara on Wednesday (November 20, 2024).
The Minister of Forestry expressed optimism that TNI's involvement could enhance forest security while supporting environmental conservation. He emphasized the importance of maintaining the natural function of forests.
“Ideally, forests remain preserved with TNI’s security support. We also hope they can contribute to reforestation efforts, such as planting more trees in forest areas,” he added.
This inter-ministerial collaboration is seen as a step toward reducing sectoral egos among institutions. Raja Juli noted that this synergy aligns with President Prabowo Subianto's vision of sustainable and efficient natural resource management.
“We hope this collaboration serves as a concrete step in realizing the President’s grand vision,” he concluded.
Through this initiative, the government remains optimistic about optimizing forest area management, supporting strategic objectives ranging from national security to environmental sustainability. (T2)
