Minister of Environment in Garut: Protect Indigenous Peoples, Restore Damaged Environment

GARUT, GARISBUMI.com – Minister of the Environment/Head of the Environmental Control Agency (KLH/Environmental Management Agency (BPLH)) Moh Jumhur Hidayat emphasized the importance of protecting indigenous communities from the impacts of environmental damage and unilateral control of territory. This protection needs to go hand in hand with nature restoration and handling pollution that threatens people's livelihoods.

Jumhur said this when attending Lawung Lingkung or Traditional Community Gathering in Garut Regency, West Java, Wednesday (30/9/2026).

"Indigenous communities are often victims of environmental damage carried out not by local people but by immigrants and so on," said Jumhur, in a written statement dated Thursday (1/10/2026).

According to Jumhur, communities who have lived for a long time and maintain the balance of nature need protection so that they are not eliminated from their managed areas due to unilateral claims.

He emphasized that land tenure documents should not be the basis for immediately evicting local communities. Jumhur also mentioned new legal provisions that are expected to strengthen this protection, but the information provided did not provide details on the regulations in question.

Recovery is the Responsibility of the Damaging Party

Jumhur said that parties who cause environmental damage must be responsible for restoring it, including if the damage is done by corporations.

"One of the things mandated to us, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLH), is to ensure that all resources that have been damaged are restored. If they are damaged by a corporation, the corporation must restore them, if they are damaged by anyone, they will restore them," he said.

He added that the government would help the community deal with environmental problems, including river pollution.

During the meeting, Jumhur explained the government's steps in the form of providing waste management infrastructure along river flows to prevent plastic pollution.

The issue of waste from the leather tanning industry in Garut is also a concern. The government is trying to find solutions to finance waste management so that local economic activities remain productive without sacrificing environmental sustainability.

However, this statement does not yet explain the financing scheme, the form of processing facilities, or the implementation schedule.

The government also stated that it continues to evaluate and improve regulations so that environmental law enforcement is consistent and fair.

Received the title of Sinatria Jaga Riksa Nusantara

At the end of the activity, Jumhur received the honorary title Sinatria Jaga Riksa Nusantara from dozens of representatives of the Pasundan traditional community.

The communities mentioned in the statement include Urug, Ciptagelar, Ciptamulya, Sirna Official, Kampung Mahmud, Cirendeu, Cikondang, Kampung Pulo, Kampung Naga, Akur Cigugur, and Dayak Segandu.

According to information from the event organizers, this title is a traditional award for someone who is considered dedicated to caring for and protecting the preservation of the earth.