Forestry Draft Bill Moratorium on Mining Permits in Forests

The Forestry Commission of the House of Representatives (“DPR”) is drafting a revision to Law No. 41 of 1999 on Forestry, as amended by Regulation of the Government in Lieu of Law No. 2 of 2022 on Job Creation (collectively referred to as “Law 41/1999”). This regulation will tighten the rules on mining permits in forest areas.

“We are regulating the restructuring and revocation of destructive permits. Even for the next 5-10 years, the utilization of forest areas must be restored,” said Riyono, a member of Commission IV of the DPR, to Hukumonline.

With this tightening, the rules for granting mining permits in forest areas are strictly regulated in the Forestry Draft Bill. Additionally, Article 38 of Law 41/1999 has also been amended. The previous rules were deemed to open the door to the misuse of production and protected forests for mining activities.

“It is possible that we will impose a total ban for the next 10 years,” said Riyono.