Indonesia adopts presidential instruction to protect elephant habitats

President Prabowo Subianto issued Presidential Instruction No. 8 of 2026 to safeguard the populations and habitats of Sumatran and Bornean elephants. The directive calls for the integration of wildlife corridors and crossing structures into all new infrastructure projects, such as roads, tollways, energy networks and dams.

The Ministry of Forestry, led by Minister Raja Juli Antoni, has pledged to implement the instruction, and the Forum Konservasi Gajah Indonesia (FKGI) echoed the need for ecological connectivity in planning stages. FKGI chair Doni Gunaryadi said projects must include wildlife crossings, speed controls and early‑warning systems to avoid breaking natural elephant corridors.

International experts also welcomed the move. Heidi Riddle, chair of the IUCN SSC Asian Elephant Specialist Group, praised the ministry’s understanding of the root causes of elephant decline, noting that the cross‑sector approach could serve as a model for other Asian elephant range countries.