Antoni cited the example of Aceh, which is only manned by 30–32 forest rangers on duty for a forest area of 3.5 million hectares.
"The President directly asked me to double the number of our forest rangers to address illegal logging in our forests," the minister remarked in a press statement at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Monday.
According to him, the order also serves as moral support for the Ministry of Forestry and the forest rangers currently on duty.
"I, along with my colleagues in the forestry sector, am more confident because we have strong moral support and strong political support from the president," he continued.
He then informed that his office had revoked 22 PBPH (forest utilization business permits) covering a total of 1,012,016 hectares.
The ministry would also conduct a complete audit and evaluation of the operating permits of Toba Pulp Lestari, which operates in forest product processing, particularly pulp and its derivatives.
"Especially for PT Toba Pulp Lestari, the president has specifically instructed me to conduct a comprehensive audit and evaluation of PT TPL," Antoni remarked.
The government conducted rigorous evaluations and audits of several companies operating in the forest product processing sector following the flash floods and landslides in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra on November 25, 2025.
This disaster, in addition to extreme weather, is believed to have been worsened by environmental damage resulting from the massive conversion of forests to monoculture plantations and mining.
In a Plenary Cabinet Meeting on Monday, President Prabowo also announced the plan to review all land use permits, such as forest concession rights (HPH) and mining business permits (IUP), with no new permits or extensions to be issued in 2025.
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Translator: Genta Tenri/Fathur Rochman, Resinta S
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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