Mangrove Forest Destruction In Pamekasan, Korek Police Information Excavator Operator

The Pamekasan Police in East Java (Jatim) is investigating a case of alleged destruction of mangrove forests belonging to Perum Perhutani KPM Madura in Tanjung, Pademawu.

"Until now, the investigation is still ongoing," said Head of the Pamekasan Police Criminal Investigation Unit (Reskrim) AKP Doni Setiawan in Pamekasan, East Java, Saturday, April 19, as reported by Antara.

He explained that his party had asked for information from the excavator operator who removed the mangrove tree in the area belonging to Perum Perhutani.

The police, he continued, also continue to collect supporting evidence in the form of land ownership from Perhutani Madura, and ask for information from related parties in the case.

Perhutani KPH Madura reported a case of destroying mangrove forests to the Pamekasan Police Headquarters in 2024.

The report is based on Law Number 18 of 2013 concerning Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction and Law Number 41 of 1999 concerning Forestry, as referred to in Article 84.

In a report submitted by the Head of the Forest Police Resort (KRPH) Perhutani Madura, Mansur, at that time, it was explained that the case included the destruction of mangrove forests that occurred in Duko Hamlet, Tanjung Village, Pademawu District, Pamekasan Regency.

The destruction has been ongoing since June 2023 and the crime involves the use of heavy equipment to normalize rivers without permission or approval from Perum Perhutani KPH Madura.

"The permit should have been given by the Minister of Environment and Forestry," said Mansur.

As a result of the river normalization, the excavated soil was dumped on the right side of the river, causing mangrove trees to be buried with 445 meters of soil with a width of 3.3 meters along the riverbank.

The area is a state forest and protected forest area managed by Perum Perhutani KPH Madura, in accordance with the Decree of the Minister of Forestry Number: 27/KPTS.II/1987, news of the 1986 forest boundary system, and a work map with a scale of 1:10,000.

"Perhutani KPH Madura is clearly very disadvantaged by the destruction and therefore, we report this incident to the Pamekasan Police for further investigation," he said.

He also appreciated the steps taken by the Pamekasan Police Criminal Investigation Unit which began conducting investigations and hoped that the case could be investigated thoroughly.