InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – The Minister of Defense of the Republic of Indonesia, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, witnessed a historic moment in the national forestry governance through the Handover of Forest Area Phase II, covering 1 million hectares, including conservation areas of Tesso Nilo National Park and oil palm plantations reclaimed by the Forest Area Recovery Task Force (Satgas PKH) on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, in Jakarta.
The event commenced with the handover of documents detailing the results of the land recovery, starting from the Attorney General to the Deputy Minister of State-Owned Enterprises, and finally received by the President Director of PT Agrinas Palma Nusantara (PT APN), marking a concrete step in the productive and legitimate utilization of state assets.
In his speech, Minister Sjafrie, who also serves as the Chairman of the Satgas PKH, emphasized that the existence of this task force represents a strategic breakthrough by the government in restoring the functions of forest areas that have been illegally occupied, as well as rebuilding the foundation for land-based economic sustainability.
"This achievement is a tangible proof of the state's commitment to preserving forests as a national asset," Sjafrie stated in an official statement reported by InfoSAWIT on Saturday, July 12, 2025.
The Satgas PKH was established under Presidential Regulation No. 5 of 2025, with a target to reclaim a total of 3 million hectares of forest area by August 2025. The reclaimed lands include areas of illegal oil palm plantations, industrial timber plantations (HTI), conservation areas, and plasma lands that have not yet been allocated to the community.
As of July 2025, the total area successfully reclaimed has reached over 2 million hectares, making the Satgas PKH one of the most progressive policy instruments in the national forestry spatial recovery agenda.
A key highlight of this second phase of reclamation is the Tesso Nilo National Park area in Riau, which has symbolized the weak oversight of conservation areas for nearly two decades. The successful restoration of this area is seen as a significant milestone in the country's efforts to protect biodiversity and maintain national ecosystem balance.
Beyond ecological aspects, the economic impact of the forest area reclamation is also beginning to be felt. From February to June 2025, the state recorded revenues of IDR 615 billion from tax obligations of parties involved in the occupation of illegal lands, consisting of IDR 167 billion from Land and Building Tax (PBB) and IDR 448 billion from other taxes.
"This figure indicates an increased awareness among stakeholders regarding tax obligations, and it is evidence that this policy has a direct impact on state revenue," Sjafrie remarked.
The Minister also conveyed that the subsequent management of the reclaimed lands will be conducted selectively. Lands with high economic value will be managed by PT Agrinas Palma Nusantara under the coordination of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises, aiming to optimize the utilization of state assets to support the welfare of the broader community.
"This transformation is not just about regulation, but also about building a fair, sovereign, and sustainable economic system," he added.
In closing his remarks, Minister Sjafrie expressed appreciation to all parties involved in the Satgas PKH—from the prosecution, law enforcement agencies, technical ministries, to local governments—who have worked together to realize this national agenda.
"I hope this spirit of service continues to be upheld so that our mission to reorganize forest areas can provide tangible benefits for the people and the future of Indonesia's environment," he concluded. (T2)
