Mines Found on Sumatran Elephant Route, Ministry of Forestry Reclaims 300 Hectares of Seblat Forest

Therefore, re-control of the area must be continued with sustainable protection and restoration of the ecosystem.

"Law enforcement must work together with ecosystem restoration so that the areas we save can truly function again as forests and living spaces for wildlife, while providing ecological benefits for the surrounding communities," he said.

Identification of Land Owners

The operation involved the Sumatra Regional Forestry Law Enforcement Center, the Bengkulu Natural Resources Conservation Center, the Kerinci Seblat National Park Center, the Bengkulu Provincial Environment and Forestry Service, the National Police, and the TNI.

Apart from carrying out physical control, the joint team identified parties suspected of controlling or carrying out activities in the forest area.

The collection of materials and information continues to be carried out to trace land tenure patterns and determine legal follow-up based on the facts and evidence found.

Head of the Sumatra Regional Forestry Law Enforcement Agency, Hari Novianto, said that regaining control of the area was not the end of the operation.

"After the area is controlled again, we have to ensure that the area is not encroached again. We are also identifying the parties who control and carry out activities in the area," said Hari.