InfoSAWIT, PADANG — The Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) of West Sumatra Province is urging the local Forestry Department to be more proactive in supporting the work of the Forest Area Enforcement Task Force (Satgas PKH). This call comes in response to the ongoing prevalence of illegal palm oil plantation practices in various regions of Ranah Minang.
Secretary of Commission IV of the West Sumatra DPRD, Verry Mulyadi, emphasized that the support of the Forestry Department is key to the success of enforcement efforts. This includes providing accurate and detailed data regarding forest areas that have been suspected of being misused by private companies.
“Concrete support could include supplying valid data to the Satgas PKH. This is crucial to ensure that enforcement efforts are effective and that forest areas in West Sumatra remain protected,” Verry stated, as quoted by InfoSAWIT from Antara on Monday (July 14, 2025).
Recent data shows that the Satgas PKH has successfully reclaimed 3,897 hectares of forest and illegal palm oil plantations. Most of this area is located in Agam and Pasaman Barat regencies. In these two regencies, PT AMP Plantation is reported to be illegally managing approximately 1,622 hectares, while PT Primatama Muliajaya controls 330 hectares.
The task force has also conducted enforcement in Silaut District, Pesisir Selatan Regency, reclaiming 1,228 hectares of illegal palm oil plantations previously controlled by PT Sumatera Jaya Agro Lestari. Additionally, in Dharmasraya Regency, the task force seized 715.03 hectares from PT Selago Makmur Plantation.
However, Verry believes that these achievements are still far from sufficient. He estimates that the area of forest being used illegally in West Sumatra could reach around 32,000 hectares. In addition to palm oil plantations, forest areas are also being used for shrimp farming and the construction of resorts without proper permits.
“The West Sumatra Forestry Department must be more active in supplying information to the Satgas PKH regarding protected forest areas that are suspected to be exploited by private companies. Comprehensive handling can only be achieved if the field data is strong and accurate,” he added.
Meanwhile, support for the Satgas PKH also comes from the Chairman of Commission II of the West Sumatra DPRD, Khairuddin Simanunjak. He called on all elements of society and government institutions to actively support the program to enforce forest areas. According to him, this step aligns with President Prabowo Subianto's vision of enhancing the welfare of the people.
“Enforcing illegal palm oil plantations and forest areas that are exploited unlawfully is very important. Not only to protect environmental sustainability, but the results will also directly impact increasing state revenue,” Khairuddin stated.
Commission II of the West Sumatra DPRD, which oversees the economic sector, believes that allowing illegal plantation activities to continue could harm the state, both in terms of environmental damage and the potential loss of tax and retribution revenue.
“If forest areas continue to be allowed to be controlled illegally, the state loses significant revenue potential. This must be stopped,” he asserted. (T2)
