40 Hectares of TNBBS Core Zone Opened Illegally, Four Suspects Detained

Head of the Sumatra Regional Forestry Law Enforcement Agency, Hari Novianto, said investigators were still investigating the roles of all the people arrested. One of the witnesses is said to be from an institution and has been handed over to the relevant institution for further examination.

TNBBS has an important position in Indonesian conservation because it is part of the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra which UNESCO has designated as a World Heritage Site. This area is also the habitat of a number of endangered animals, including the Sumatran tiger, Sumatran elephant and Sumatran rhino.

The four suspects are suspected of violating the provisions of the Forestry Law which carries a maximum threat of 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to IDR 2 billion.

The legal process is still ongoing. Determining a suspect does not mean that a person has been declared guilty before a court decision has permanent legal force.

EDITORIAL SOURCE: Ministry of Forestry, 29 August 2026.