InfoSAWIT, ACEH TAMIANG — The Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut), along with the Garuda Forest Area Control Task Force (PKH), the National Police, the TNI (Indonesian National Armed Forces), the local governments of Aceh Tamiang and Langkat, and the local community, have begun the process of restoring forest functions in the Gunung Leuser National Park (TNGL). This action was marked by the felling of illegal palm oil plantations and the rehabilitation of a 59.32-hectare area last Thursday (9/4).
The initial phase of the control operation took place in Bahorok (10 ha) and Tenggulun (19.32 ha) from September 1–10, 2025. Similar activities will continue in Batang Serangan (30 ha) and Tenggulun (300 ha). The felling of 2- to 12-year-old palm oil trees was done using chainsaws in Bahorok and heavy equipment in Tenggulun.
The activity was witnessed by officials from Kemenhut, the Garuda PKH Task Force, the Muspida of Aceh Tamiang, the BPKH Region I Medan, the Muspika, the community, and several non-governmental organizations. As a symbol of the start of ecosystem restoration, tree planting was also carried out at the cleared sites.
Several illegal landholders had previously returned their areas, including PT SSR (0.63 ha) and AS (18.69 ha) in Tenggulun on August 13, 2025, as well as community lands in Rembah Waren and Paten Kuda, Bahorok, on April 28, 2025.
The Head of the TNGL Great Hall, Subhan, explained that the restored areas would be planted with food for wildlife and boundary-marking plants. Support also came from conservation partners, such as the Orangutan Sumatera Lestari-OIC Foundation, the Leuser Conservation Forum, and the Sustainable Ecosystem Foundation, who are ready to voluntarily carry out restoration.
The Director General of Forest Law Enforcement, Dwi Januanto Nugroho, affirmed Kemenhut's commitment to collaborating with the Garuda PKH Task Force, local governments, and related partners. "We will continue to prioritize an integrated law enforcement instrument to ensure optimal forest area restoration," he said in an official statement to InfoSAWIT on Monday (9/8/2025).
The Commander of the Garuda PKH Task Force, Major General Dody Triwinarto, appreciated the community members who voluntarily surrendered their illegal palm oil land. According to him, community participation is key to accelerating the restoration of the conservation forest's function, especially in TNGL.
Meanwhile, the Director of Forestry Crime Enforcement, Rudianto Saragih Napitu, revealed that Gakkumhut had previously carried out six operations to eradicate illegal logging and one operation to restore area security in Tenggulun and Langkat. "The collaboration of all parties will continue to be strengthened to reclaim TNGL and restore its ecosystem," he concluded. (T2)
