On Monday, Jakarta announced that it would revoke or restrict cultivation rights for 11 plantation companies implicated in repeated forest and land fires in Kalimantan. The decision follows recommendations from the national police’s criminal investigation department and is aimed at preventing future destructive fires and protecting the region’s fragile ecosystems.
Indonesia’s Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning, Nusron Wahid, said the action concerns companies that have repeatedly set plantation fires that burned more than half of their concession areas. The ministry will withdraw the rights of three companies entirely, while the remaining eight will face partial revocation, denial of new rights or additional review.
"The action follows recommendations from the national police’s criminal investigation department," Wahid said. He added that the companies had “lacked adequate fire prevention facilities and violated land‑use conditions.”
Hailing the decision, the minister noted that the cases span the provinces of South, West and East Kalimantan, where local communities rely on forest resources for subsistence and cultural practices. The stagnant approval of new plantation concessions has been criticized for exacerbating poverty and environmental degradation in indigenous territories.
The revocation is part of a broader legislative push to ensure that plantation development aligns with national bans on provocative fire-based clearing methods. The call for stricter enforcement of the new laws reflected a growing recognition that uncontrolled fires have devastated peatlands, destroyed wildlife habitats and released large amounts of greenhouse gases.
Dozens of Kalimantan residents have protested in the past months over the spread of fire outbreaks. Indigenous groups in southeastern Kalimantan have long complained about land encroachment, explaining that the loss of forested land threatens their food security and traditional medicine practices that depend on the wetlands. The new government action is seen by many as a necessary step to protect these vulnerable communities.
The announcement follows the police’s identification of the 11 firms. No formal legal proceedings have yet been initiated, and the companies have not yet contested the revocations in court. They have, however, expressed concern that the cleanup and replanting required is costly and logistically challenging.
Planted areas of the affected companies could cover tens of thousands of hectares of peatland that are prone to ignition during the dry season. By removing or restricting the companies’ cultivation rights, the government hopes to prevent the marginal timber sector from exploiting peat forests in ways that lead to fire and subsequent land damage.
According to the minister, “We are focused on protecting both the country’s ecological integrity and the livelihoods of those who depend on the land,” while acknowledging that implementation will need to be coordinated with local authorities and affected communities.
While the specifics of which companies will undergo full revocation remain undisclosed, the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning will publish a detailed list soon. The decree is expected to come into force within 30 days of publication, allowing the affected firms time to reorganize their agricultural operations.
Kaliman: The announcement has received limited coverage in national media, but activist networks circulating the news on social media expressed cautious optimism. Some local NGOs have urged for a transparent review process, stating that community consultation is essential to prevent unintended economic consequences.
The procedural step also sets a precedent for nearby planting sectors, such as rubber and palm oil, which have recently faced similar scrutiny. The decision underscores Indonesia’s commitment to planetary stewardship and adherence to updated forest protection regulations.
What is clear is that, for many Kalimantan communities, the loss of forested land has piled on existing pressures of climate change and economic instability. While the government claims the revocations will safeguard the region from future catastrophic fires, they must also provide viable alternatives for displaced people who depend on these lands for traditional food harvesting and medicinal plant collection. The next few weeks will likely see intense negotiations among government departments, plantation firms and community groups in Kalimantan.
In sum, Indonesia’s revocation of plantation rights for the 11 companies is a significant step toward enforcing fire prevention measures and preserving Kalimantan’s ecological diversity while also posing challenges for local communities that rely on shared forest resources. The outcome of this enforcement will play a crucial role in shaping the future landscape of Kalimantan’s forest management.
