March 12, 2026 | 10:57 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has allotted presidential aid funds for the construction of a fence in Way Kambas National Park, Lampung. Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni stated that this decision was made to address what he described as recurring conflict between wildlife and humans in the area.
This was conveyed by Raja Juli after attending a limited meeting with Prabowo at the Presidential Palace on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
The minister said Prabowo has concerns for national wildlife conservation. "He decided to allocate presidential aid funds to build a fence or canal, which will fortify the border between Way Kambas National Park and the villages or settlements located alongside it," Raja Juli said on Thursday afternoon.
The president, Raja Juli said, was initially ready to earmark Rp2 trillion for the fence construction and ecosystem restoration in Way Kambas, but said the government could mark down the figure to be below Rp1 trillion.
"We reviewed it, and cut down the budget to a maximum of Rp839 billion," he said.
According to Raja Juli, the conflict between wildlife and humans is a longstanding problem. Wild elephants often leave the national park area and attempt to enter human settlements.
"A few months ago, a village chief was trampled by an elephant while it attempted to enter or pass through the villages, residential areas, and agricultural land," he said.
"The village chief died," the minister added.
The government is conducting a trial and comprehensive study for the fence installation, with a comparative study citing national park management in African countries and India.
"So there may be embankments in several locations, along with steel-reinforced fences. We are assessing the fences' strength," Raja Juli said.
The Indonesian government also plans to develop community centers along the embankments. "For example, in some parts, the fences could be utilized for a beekeeping center, where the environment and wildlife are preserved, and the local growth is strengthened," the minister said.
Read: Exclusive Lobbying Behind Way Kambas Tourism
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