Status of Wayang Mountain Has Not Changed, the Ministry of Home Affairs Assures that it Remains a Protected Forest

Situ Cisanti, which is the upstream of the Citarum River, is located at the foot of Mount Wayang, Bandung Regency, West Java. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Wayang Mountain area in Bandung Regency, West Java is still a protected forest. The Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut) said that Wayang Mountain is now run as a Village Forest as part of Social Forestry.

Head of the Bureau of Public Relations and Foreign Cooperation of the Ministry of Finance, Krisdianto, confirmed from Jakarta, Friday, explained that the Decree of the Minister of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia Number: 10629 of 2025 dated November 11, 2025 was not a new permit issuance but an administrative transformation from the Recognition and Protection of Forestry Partnership (Kulin KK) to Village Forests.

"This approval of village forest management does not transfer land ownership and does not change the status of the area. This area remains a protected forest, under the control of the state, and is not transferred to the ownership of any party. Community management access in the framework of Village Forests is limited with state supervision," he explained, as quoted by ANTARA.

He ensured that there was a strict ban on land functions, commercial logging, and land sales. Activities that are contrary to the protective function are prohibited and can be sanctioned, including revocation of permits.

Responding to issues related to the proposed Wayang Mountain Forest Park (Tahura) by the West Java Provincial Government, Krisdianto said the process is still ongoing and waiting for technical studies to be carried out in 2026.

"The Village Forest Decree does not cancel or hinder the Tahura proposal process, and will be adjusted to the recommendations of the integrated team's technical study," he said.

Previously, the West Java Provincial Government announced plans to change the status of three forest areas into Tahura, namely Sanggabuana, Gunung Cikuray and Gunung Wayang.