Illegal logging persists in Riau as wildfires sweep province
The Riau Forest Rescue Network (Jikalahari) said its records showed that 66 percent of Riau’s natural forest had disappeared over the past 25 years, falling from 3.91 million hectares in 2000 to 1.31 million ha in 2025.
The Riau Forest Rescue Network (Jikalahari) reports that nearly two-thirds of the natural forest in Riau province has vanished over the past 25 years, shrinking from 3.91 million hectares in 2000 to 1.31 million hectares in 2025. Despite devastating wildfires that have ravaged the region, illegal logging continues unabated. In the span of a few weeks, authorities have apprehended 11 individuals suspected of clearing protected forests.
Five of these suspects are under investigation in Rokan Hilir regency for clearing 133 hectares of mangrove forest to make way for oil palm plantations. Utilizing heavy machinery, they executed large-scale deforestation along the coastlines of Kubu and Limau Kapas districts. Herry Heryawan, the Riau Police chief, disclosed that the environmental consequences of these illicit activities are estimated at Rp 16.83 billion (approximately US$951,546).
He emphasized that the police investigation will persist beyond the five currently detained suspects, as they probe for additional individuals or parties implicated in the alleged illegal clearing. In a separate incident, six people were arrested in Indragiri Hulu regency last week for engaging in illegal logging within the Kerumutan Wildlife Reserve for a period of two months.
Written by urgent.news from The Jakarta Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
