December 24, 2025 | 01:01 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The cleanup of debris, particularly the massive volume of logs left behind by the floods and landslides in Sumatra in late November, has sparked controversy. The debate centers on the utilization of this felled timber for local rehabilitation efforts.
Some stakeholders advocate for unrestricted use given the emergency conditions, while others emphasize strict ownership regulations or the necessity of formal coordination with local governments. This latter view was recently echoed by the Presidential Palace through Minister of State Secretariat Prasetyo Hadi.
Addressing the issue, the Forestry Ministry has clarified its official stance. In a written statement, Krisdianto, Head of the Ministry's Bureau of Public Relations and Foreign Cooperation, affirmed that the logs carried by the floods across Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra are classified as specific disaster debris requiring specialized handling. The ministry’s primary objective in managing these materials is to ensure the safety and health of the affected populations.
Consequently, the Ministry maintains that these logs can be utilized by the community on a limited basis to support rehabilitation and reconstruction within disaster-affected areas. Krisdianto explained that this policy aligns with Government Regulation Number 27 of 2020 concerning Specific Waste Management, which dictates that waste generated by natural disasters must be managed through specific protocols.
"In a forestry context, the mechanism for handling flood-swept logs also adheres to Law Number 18 of 2013 concerning the Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction to ensure that forest management remains orderly and accountable," Krisdianto added on Tuesday, December 23, 2025.
He further noted that the Ministry had issued an official directive to affected local governments as early as December 8, 2025, via a letter from the Director General of Sustainable Forest Management. In the document, the Forestry Ministry emphasized that the utilization of these logs is strictly for humanitarian purposes, specifically targeting emergency response, rehabilitation, and post-disaster reconstruction.
"The logs carried by the floods can be utilized by the community in a limited capacity to rebuild homes, public facilities, and vital infrastructure in the affected regions," Krisdianto stated.
Furthermore, he clarified that because the material is categorized as found wood, its management must still be reported to local village authorities. He stressed that this policy is not an opening for exploitation or a loophole for timber laundering, but rather a measured and responsible humanitarian response. "We want to ensure that the handling of these logs is conducted in an orderly, coordinated manner and is not subject to abuse," he said.
The Forestry Ministry, according to Krisdianto, remains committed to a collaborative approach to disaster management while upholding the principles of responsible forest governance. "Through this approach, we expect the social and economic recovery of the community to proceed in harmony with environmental protection and legal certainty within the forestry sector."
Read: Flash Floods Bring Logs from Upstream
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