Gov’t Stops Issuance of New Permit for Primary Forests, Peatlands
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on 7 August, 2019 signed Presidential Instruction Number 5 of 2019 on the Termination of Granting of New Permits and Improving Management of Primary Natural Forests and Peatlands in order to save the primary natural forests and peatlands, as well as to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.
In the FIRST dictum of the Presidential Instruction, the President instructs: 1. Minister of the Environment and Forestry; 2. Minister of Home Affairs; 3. Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency; 4. Minister of Agriculture; 5. Minister of Public Works and Public Housing; 6. Cabinet Secretary; 7. Head of Geospatial Information Agency; 8. Governors; and 9. Regents/Mayors to:
“Terminate granting permit of new primary natural forest and peat land in conservation forests, protected forests, production forests which include limited production forests, regular or permanent production forests, and production forests that can be converted, as well as other use areas as listed in the Indicative Map of Termination of Granting New Permit.”
The termination of the issuance of new permit applies to the use of primary natural forest areas and peatlands, with exceptions given to:
- application that has been granted in-principle approval or permission to use forest areas for exploration activities from the Minister of Forestry prior to the issuance of Presidential Instruction Number 10 of 2011 on Postponement of Granting of New Permits and Improving management of Primary Natural Forests and Peatlands;
- implementation of vital national development, namely geothermal, oil and gas, electricity, land for national food security programs including rice, sugar cane, corn, sago, soybeans, and cassava:
- extension of forest utilization permit and/or use of existing forest area as long as the permit of business is still valid and meets the sustainability requirements;
- ecosystem restoration;
- implementation of activities related to national defense and security;
- evacuation routes for victims of natural disasters and temporary shelters for victims of natural disasters;
- preparation of the central government/capital city/national, provincial or cities/municipalities government headquarters;
- infrastructure which is a national strategic project stipulated by Presidential Regulation as well as the improvement of existing infrastructure; and
- supporting infrastructure for public safety.
The President specifically instructs Minister of the Environment and Forestry to: stop issuing new permit of primary natural forests and peatlands in conservation forests, protected forests and production forests which include limited production forests, regular or permanent production forests, and production forests that can be converted based on the Indicative Map of Termination of Granting New Permits.
The President also instructs Minister of the Environment and Forestry to revise the Indicative Map on the Termination of New Permit for forest areas every 6 (six) months after coordinating with relevant ministries/government agencies as well as to stipulate Indicative Map on the Termination of New Permits of primary natural forests and peatlands in the revised forest area.
The President instructs Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency to stop the issuance of land rights including business rights and usage rights in other areas based on the Indicative Map on the Termination of New Permits; and b. Accelerating the consolidation of the Indicative Map on the Termination of Granting of New Permits into the revision of regional spatial map as part of improving land use management through cooperation with governors and regents/mayors.
“Terminate the issuance of agricultural permit and new plantation business permit on forest areas, peatlands and other areas based on the Indicative Map on the Termination of the Granting of New Permits,” the THIRD dictum number 4C of the Regulation reads.
The President instructs Minister of Public Works and Public Housing to postpone the construction of buildings in other areas based on Indicative Map of Termination of New Permit, unless the Minister has coordinated with Minister of the Environment and Forestry, the Governor, and Regents/Mayors before the enactment of this Presidential Instruction.
The President also instructs Head of the Geospatial Information Agency to validate and integrate the map of forest and peatlands cover in accordance with Indicative Map on the Termination of New Permit in forest areas and other areas every 6 (six) months through cooperation with Minister of the Environment and Forestry and Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency.
“The implementation of this Presidential Instruction is reported by Minister of the Environment and Forestry to the President every 6 (six) months or at any time if necessary,” the SIXTH dictum of the Presidential Instruction reads.
The Cabinet Secretary is also instructed to monitor the implementation of this Presidential Instruction and report the results to the President.
“This Presidential Instruction comes into force on the date of its enactment,“ the Presidential Instruction stipulates. (Pusdatin/ES)
Translated by: Ridwan Ibadurrohman
Edited by: Mia Medyana
