InfoSAWIT, PELALAWAN - On that Saturday morning, the atmosphere at the PT Sari Lembah Subur (SLS) plantation, a subsidiary of PT Astra Agro Lestari Tbk., in Pelalawan, Riau, was noticeably different. The Forest Area Enforcement Task Force (PKH) arrived with a clear purpose: to enforce regulations and protect forest areas from illegal activities.

Under the scorching sun, the team erected warning signs in an area of 250 hectares declared to be within forest boundaries. The sound of heavy machinery, usually heard, was now silent, and harvesting activities came to a halt. This sealing marks the strict implementation of Presidential Regulation Number 5 of 2025 concerning the Enforcement of Forest Areas. This is not merely a formality but a strong message that the government will not allow forest encroachment to continue without consequences.

"The company's plantation is located in the forest area of about 250 hectares," said Rizki Tama from Pelalawan to InfoSAWIT via WhatsApp on Monday (March 17, 2025).

Meanwhile, PT AALI Tbk's spokesperson in Riau, Dede, confirmed that some of the seized land from PT SLS has overlapping land use rights (HGU) with forest areas. "Yes, there are HGU plantations of PT SLS that overlap with forest areas in SK 36. That is where the signs were placed," he said, as quoted by GoRiau.com.

However, Dede could not provide details on the extent of the land seized by the PKH Task Force. "I haven't received information yet; it's just the placement of the sealing signs," he explained.

The PKH Task Force does not act arbitrarily. Their actions are supported by clear regulations and a strong push to maintain environmental sustainability and forest ecosystems. This sealing serves as evidence that regulations are not just words on paper but are genuinely enforced in the field.

With this action, the government reaffirms its commitment to regulate land within forest areas and ensure that the palm oil industry operates in accordance with applicable regulations. (T2)