Indonesia Cracks Down on 300 Ha of Illegal Oil Palm Plantations in Bengkulu

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry has cracked down on 300 hectares of illegal oil palm plantations in the production forest (HP) of Teramang, Mukomuko Regency, Bengkulu, during an operation on September 10-16, 2026. The location is part of the Seblat natural landscape, an important corridor for Sumatran elephants.

In addition to uprooting 627 oil palm trees and dismantling 22 huts, a joint team from five institutions—including the local Natural Resource Conservation Center (BKSDA)—confiscated landmines and poison along the elephant corridor. Law enforcers are gathering evidence and testimony to ensnare the masterminds behind the encroachment.

Head of the Sumatra Region Forestry Law Enforcement Agency, Hari Novianto, said reclaiming state land is not the end of the operation. "We are identifying parties who have illegally benefited. If there is evidence of criminal elements, the handling will be developed based on the evidence," he said in a written statement on Thursday, September 24, 2026.

In 2025, the same joint team also cracked down on 8,200 hectares of forest. The team has also eradicated 24,100 oil palm trees, demolished 186 huts, cut off 7 bridges, and seized heavy equipment.

The Director General of Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Dwi Januanto Nugroho, said the vital elephant and Sumatran tiger habitats will be restored in accordance with the law.

"Seblat cannot be straightened out just once. Areas that have been reclaimed must be strictly guarded to prevent further encroachment, and damaged habitats must be restored," said Januanto.