InfoSAWIT, PELALAWAN — Tesso Nilo National Park (TNTN), which should serve as the last bastion for wildlife protection in Sumatra, is now facing serious pressure. The Forest Area Enforcement Task Force (Satgas PKH) recently discovered alarming facts during a field inspection in Pelalawan, Riau, revealing that the conservation area has been infiltrated by illegal palm oil plantations and settlements by incoming residents.
“This is not just about land encroachment. It’s about the disruption of the ecological functions of the national park, which is the last refuge for wildlife such as the Sumatran elephant,” stated Harli Siregar, Head of the Legal Information Center at the Attorney General's Office, during a media briefing in Jakarta on Tuesday, June 10.
According to Harli, Tesso Nilo covers an area of approximately 81,739 hectares. However, over the past decade, the area has been shrinking due to various pressures, particularly from human activities. One of the main causes is the expansion of illegal palm oil plantations.
“According to regulations, national parks are conservation areas that should not be planted with palm oil. Yet, the reality is that many palm oil plantations have emerged there,” Harli explained.
In addition to illegal plantations, the Satgas PKH team also found new settlements established by migrants. This activity not only violates the law but also poses serious ecological impacts. Wild animals such as elephants and tigers, whose habitats are increasingly encroached upon, are beginning to enter human settlements, leading to human-wildlife conflicts.
“We have noted the emergence of conflicts as wild animals lose their living space. Their habitats are disturbed. This is an alarm for all parties,” emphasized Harli.
To address this, the government, through Satgas PKH, which comprises various elements—Attorney General's Office, Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), TNI, and Polri—unites in efforts to reclaim state sovereignty over this conservation area. Law enforcement is the first step to prevent further damage.
“There are state rights that must be upheld. We cannot allow this national park to disappear due to negligence. This is a matter of legal sovereignty and a legacy of life,” Harli asserted.
The next step, according to him, is the rehabilitation of the area. KLHK is expected to promptly establish reforestation policies and restore damaged lands. This recovery effort is deemed crucial to restore the ecological functions of Tesso Nilo and preserve the species that depend on it.
“The hope is that Tesso Nilo can return to being an intact and sustainable tropical forest area, as it was originally designed to be a habitat for elephants and a center of biodiversity. This is not just a national park; it is a legacy for future generations,” Harli concluded.
The current condition of Tesso Nilo reflects a conservation emergency in Indonesia. If not addressed promptly, threats to forests and wildlife will continue to escalate—and what will be lost is not just the forest, but also hope. (T2)
