InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – The Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) has pledged to act on the recommendations of the Indonesian Ombudsman to address land overlaps between oil palm plantations and forest areas. This commitment was conveyed by Deputy Minister of ATR/Deputy Head of BPN, Ossy Dermawan, during a meeting at the Ombudsman’s office.
According to Ossy, the Ombudsman’s analysis on preventing maladministration in palm oil industry governance serves as a critical foundation for improving land management in Indonesia. A key focus is clarifying land rights (Hak Atas Tanah or HAT) for smallholder palm oil plantations located within forest areas.
“The Ombudsman has delivered its recommendations clearly. Our main task is to resolve the overlap of oil palm plantation lands with forest areas to improve governance and prevent maladministration in this sector,” said Ossy, as quoted by InfoSAWIT from Antara on Friday (November 22, 2024).
Data shows that approximately 37% of Indonesia’s total land area, equivalent to 70.4 million hectares, falls under the domain of the ATR/BPN Ministry, while the remaining 63%, or 120.4 million hectares, is designated as forest areas managed by the Ministry of Forestry.
Ossy emphasized that once land rights are granted, land management will be handed over to the relevant technical ministries. However, this process requires inter-agency collaboration to ensure land status clarity and minimize conflicts.
“We must prioritize eliminating sectoral egos in line with President Prabowo Subianto’s vision of achieving prosperity for all citizens. Every problem has a solution as long as there is strong political will,” he added.
The Ombudsman’s recommendations include adopting a One Map Policy-based approach as a reference for resolving spatial planning issues between forest and non-forest areas. Ossy noted that this policy is vital to minimizing future maladministration by providing a unified guide for all ministries and institutions.
The Ombudsman’s report identified three critical aspects prone to maladministration in palm oil governance:
- Land – Overlaps between plantations and forest areas.
- Licensing – Complex and overlapping business permits that often trigger conflicts.
- Trade Practices – Discrepancies between production and market demand for palm oil commodities.
The report emphasized that resolving land issues must start with legal certainty over HAT ownership and other forms of recognition.
By implementing these measures, the ATR/BPN Ministry is optimistic about supporting a more integrated, fair, and sustainable management of oil palm plantations, ultimately contributing to the welfare of the community. (T2)
