When the President's Customary Forest Decree Does Not Solve the Problem, the Movement to Close TPL Continues to be Raised

The community continues to rally for the closure of PT Toba Pulp Lestari in the Lake Toba area, North Sumatra. The unresolved agrarian conflict that has persisted for decades is a catalyst, in addition to ecological damage.

The wave of demands for closure continues to spread among the communities around Lake Toba, churches, indigenous communities, activists, and alliances of indigenous peoples, as well as environmental activists. The demands are becoming increasingly fervent as a form of public concern. This is because, although the rights to customary forests have been obtained by the community, the return of some land from corporate concessions has yet to be realized.

"The Decree on Customary Forests handed directly by the President is not recognized by TPL (PT Toba Pulp Lestari). Nevertheless, some of the land cannot be reclaimed by the indigenous community," said the Bureau of Organization, Cadre Development, and Membership of the Alliance of Indigenous Peoples of the Archipelago (AMAN) Tano Batak, Hengky Manalu, on Monday (9/6/2025).

Hengky stated that agrarian conflicts occur in almost all regions directly bordering the TPL concessions. The industrial plantation-based pulp company has a concession area of 167,912 hectares spread around the Lake Toba area. Most of the TPL concessions are located in the watershed area of Lake Toba, which covers only 263,041 hectares.

The hope for the resolution of agrarian conflicts in the Lake Toba area, according to Hengky, actually emerged when the 7th President Joko Widodo issued a Decree on Customary Forests to six indigenous communities facing agrarian conflicts with TPL in February 2022.

On the shores of Lake Toba in Humbang Hasundutan Regency, the President directly handed over the Customary Forest Decree issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry to six indigenous community groups. The customary forest has been released from the TPL concession.

Four of them received the Decree on the Establishment of Customary Forests, namely the Nagasaribu Siharbangan Indigenous Community, Bius Huta Ginjang, Aek Godang Tornauli (North Tapanuli), and Pandumaan-Sipitu Huta (Humbang Hasundutan). However, there are two communities that only received the Decree on the Establishment of Indicative Areas of Customary Forests, namely the Janji Maria Indigenous Community and Simenak Henak.

Due to not yet receiving a definitive decree, the two indigenous communities have not been able to obtain all the land listed in the decree. Although they possess very strong political legitimacy as it was directly granted by the President, the decree is still not fully recognized.

The Chairman of the Simenak Henak Mangapul Samosir Indigenous Community Group (68) stated that they received an Indicative Decree for Customary Forest over an area of 236 hectares. However, the legality of the customary forest is still hindered due to the absence of a regent's decree or regional regulation regarding the designation of indigenous community groups as legal subjects.

"We have been living from the Simenak Henak customary forest for generations. We planted frankincense in our customary forest before it was finally cut down and replaced with eucalyptus plants by TPL," said Mangapul (Kompas.id 8/12/2023).

Hengky stated that a similar situation is also experienced by the Janji Maria Indigenous Community in the same district. They have not yet been able to reclaim the land from the Indicative Forest Area decree covering 118 hectares that was directly handed over by the President. Some of it is still planted with eucalyptus.

The scheme for resolving agrarian conflicts through the Indigenous Forest Decree was initially expected to be a new framework for settling agrarian conflicts involving indigenous communities with TPL that occur in many villages. From 2016 to 2023, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry has designated 7,224 hectares of indigenous forests, including indicative indigenous forest areas.

The Decree on Customary Forests, which was directly submitted by the President, is not recognized by TPL (PT Toba Pulp Lestari). Nevertheless, some of the land cannot be reclaimed by the indigenous community.

However, in recent years, there have been no further signs of the establishment of new Customary Forests from the release of TPL concessions. The agrarian conflict between indigenous communities and TPL has not reached a resolution.

Conflicts in lands that have not been designated as Customary Forests are much more heated. Criminalization of indigenous peoples has not stopped.

According to data from the North Sumatra Legal Aid and Advocacy Association (Bakumsu), at least 98 individuals have become direct victims of criminalization and violence in the Lake Toba area. A total of 45 individuals have been subjected to legal proceedings up to the court level.

The Executive Director of the Community Initiative Study and Development Group (KSPPM), Rocky Pasaribu, stated that various efforts made so far have not resolved the agrarian conflicts that are occurring. There are 32 indigenous communities supported by KSPPM in collaboration with AMAN Tano Batak. However, only six have received customary forest decrees.

For this reason, Rocky stated, they are now advocating for the closure of TPL as a resolution to agrarian conflicts and to prevent broader ecological damage. "Several academics from various universities have also supported the movement to close TPL. They will officially declare their stance on Thursday (12/6/2025)," said Rocky.

Although the TPL closure movement is facing pressure, Rocky stated that they will continue to voice it. Previously, former Director of KSPPM Delima Silalahi received a terror threat in the form of a dead bird sent to his home in North Tapanuli. According to Rocky, the terror is related to the TPL closure movement. "The dead bird was sent two days after we conducted the TPL closure action," said Rocky.

Previously, the Catholic Church through the Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation Institute (KPKC) of the Capuchin Order in Medan and the Batak Protestant Christian Church (HKBP) also expressed their support for the movement to close TPL. The company's activities are considered to have triggered ecological damage, agrarian conflicts, and the criminalization of indigenous communities.

"We reject the presence of PT TPL, which has clearly damaged biodiversity and the wealth of ecosystems in the Lake Toba area," said the Director of KPKC Kapusin Medan, Sumitro Sihombing OFM Cap.

The closure of PT TPL was also strongly voiced by Ephorus HKBP Victor Tinambunan. "The statement of rejection against the operation of PT TPL is the official stance of HKBP and 6.5 million HKBP members in the Lake Toba area and its surroundings," he said.

In response to the expanding movement to close TPL, the Corporate Communication Head of PT TPL, Salomo Sitohang, stated that they respect the right of every party to express their opinions, but it must be based on accurate data and facts. "We firmly reject the accusation that TPL's operations are the cause of ecological disasters. All of our activities are in accordance with permits, regulations, and provisions," said Salomo.

Salomo added that a comprehensive audit was conducted by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) in 2022–2023. The results indicated that TPL complied with all regulations and no violations were found in environmental or social aspects.

We firmly reject the accusation that TPL's operations are the cause of ecological disasters.

Of the total concession area of 167,912 hectares, he added, the company has only developed 46,000 hectares as eucalyptus plantations and 48,000 hectares as conservation areas and protected zones.

TPL is also undertaking factory rejuvenation for efficiency and environmental impact reduction. In the social aspect, TPL is opening dialogues, socializations, and partnership programs with the government, indigenous communities, religious leaders, and non-governmental organizations as an inclusive social approach.