The new regulation formally recognized reclaimed islets C, D and G – which are being developed by private companies – and N, developed as an expansion to Tanjung Priok port by state-owned operator PT Pelindo II, as zones with low environmental carrying capacity.

The Perpres, known as Perpres Jabodetabekpunjur (Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi, Puncak and Cianjur), allows residential, industrial and warehouse construction, as well as commerce and tourism on the four reclaimed islands, provided the built-up area of each islet is less than 40 percent.

The new regulation bans waste disposal on the islets, any activities that could harm local ecosystems or fisheries, as well as activities that could disrupt sea lanes. However, activists continue to warn about adverse environmental impacts.

Ohiongyi Marino from the Indonesian Center for Environmental Law (ICEL) said the Perpres should not regulate artificial islets because it was "not a byproduct of the 2007 law on the management of coastal areas and small islands".

Ohiongyi said spatial planning for the reclaimed islets should instead be regulated under the city’s coastal spatial planning program (RZWP3K), which is being prepared by the Jakarta administration.

The city administration has said that the four islets fall within its jurisdiction, but the Perpres offers Jakarta no option but to comply with the provisions.

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