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| Indonesian Government Reviews Land Certificates to Restore Tesso Nilo National Park. |
Jakarta – The Indonesian government is stepping up its efforts to protect and restore the country’s precious forests. One of the recent actions involves the evaluation of land ownership certificates issued within the Tesso Nilo National Park (TN Tesso Nilo) in Riau. This initiative is part of a broader reforestation and land recovery strategy, especially after widespread illegal encroachment damaged the area.
The Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) is now reviewing land titles that are suspected to overlap with this national conservation zone. Minister Nusron Wahid emphasized that legal land ownership must not come at the cost of environmental destruction.
Thousands of Land Titles Under Review
Speaking at an official event titled “Second Phase of Forest Land Reclamation – One Million Hectares” held at the Attorney General’s Office on July 9, 2025, Minister Nusron explained that of the 1,758 registered land certificates in the Tesso Nilo area, many are under scrutiny.
“We’ve already canceled a number of certificates, particularly those that clearly overlap with forest areas. However, the challenge lies in the ones issued between 1999 and 2006, which were based on Agrarian Reform Decrees (SK Reforma Agraria) issued by local regents at the time,” said Nusron.
Coordination with Local Governments
To handle this legal complexity, Nusron stated that his ministry is coordinating with the respective local governments. The goal is to assess whether these land titles can be legally revoked.
“If the Agrarian Reform decree is withdrawn, the corresponding land certificate will be automatically canceled as well. Around 400 certificates are currently being processed for cancellation. The rest are being examined one by one to determine if they were part of the reform program or are simply overlapping claims,” he explained.
He added that many citizens holding these certificates may not be at fault, as they were merely recipients of land allocations from their local regents. Therefore, Nusron is urging regional leaders to help reevaluate past decisions.
More Than 80,000 Hectares of Forest Reclaimed
Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus), Febrie Adriansyah, also reported significant progress in reclaiming forest land. According to him, the task force has successfully reclaimed 81,793 hectares of land in Tesso Nilo, a huge step forward in restoring the park’s function as a conservation zone.
“Our task force is working hard to return this national park to its original role—protecting ecosystems and biodiversity,” said Febrie.
Formal Handovers and Cross-Ministerial Collaboration
During the event, an official signing of the Land Handover Report (BAP) was conducted by the Forest Task Force (Satgas PKH). The Attorney General, Burhanuddin, and the Minister of Environment and Environmental Control Agency, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, signed the document. Minister Nusron and Riau Governor Abdul Wahid witnessed the signing as part of their commitment to the cause.
Minister Nusron was accompanied by Virgo Eresta Jaya, the Director General of Land and Spatial Surveying and Mapping. Also in attendance were members of the Forest Task Force and several ministers from the current administration.
This move is about more than just legal documents. It’s about environmental justice. Tesso Nilo is one of the last remaining lowland forests in Sumatra and home to endangered species like the Sumatran elephant. Illegal land grabs and plantation development have pushed this vital ecosystem to the brink. Through this evaluation, the government hopes to restore balance and reclaim the forest's role as a sanctuary for biodiversity and a shield against climate change.
Efforts like these require collaboration between national agencies, local governments, and communities. With continued transparency and action, the dream of a greener, thriving Tesso Nilo is within reach.