TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Popular Reads
Top Results
No results found. Please check your search term and try again
Can't find what you're looking for?
View all search results
Popular Reads
Top Results
No results found. Please check your search term and try again
Can't find what you're looking for?
View all search resultsGovt begins reforestation of Tesso Nilo national park
Raja Juli said the government would gradually remove oil palm trees planted by settlers and replace them with forest species with high ecological value.
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Forest rangers and policemen pose on June 10, 2025, in front of a demolished illegal structure inside the Tesso Nilo National Park in Pelalawan regency, Riau. The personnel were part of the Garuda Task Force for Forest Enforcement to rehabilitate forest areas in Indonesia. (Antaranews.com/Forestry Ministry)
T
he government has begun the first phase of reforestation in Riau’s Tesso Nilo National Park after hundreds of settlers agreed to leave the protected area, while efforts continue to evict those who remain.
Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said the restoration of Tesso Nilo had become a national priority due to the park’s critical ecological role.
“We can no longer delay recovery efforts. Tesso Nilo is a critical habitat for the Sumatran elephant and many other species. If we do not act now, we risk the future of key ecosystems in central Sumatra,” Raja Juli said.
Raja Juli said the government would gradually remove oil palm trees planted by settlers and replace them with forest species with high ecological value. He said the government had conducted scientific assessments and had worked with research institutions and academics to ensure the species selected would support food sources and shelter for wildlife.
In addition to restoring ecosystem functions, the reforestation effort is expected to increase carbon absorption and protect endemic plant species.
“This is a proud and encouraging moment. Our efforts to restore the national park’s ecosystem are slowly but steadily progressing as planned. The recovery of Tesso Nilo is not easy, but the path to restoration is now becoming clearer,” Raja Juli said.
“This reforestation is not just about planting trees. It is a shared commitment to restore the balance of nature and ensure future generations inherit a healthy, sustainable forest,” he added.
