Indonesia Defense Ministry Receives Forest Use Approval for 17 Territorial Infantry Battalions

On 28 July 2026, Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry handed a Surat Keputusan Persetujuan Penggunaan Kawasan Hutan (PPKH) to the Indonesian Army (TNI AD) to permit the construction of bases for 17 Territorial Infantry Development battalions on about 961 hectares of forest land. The hand‑over was witnessed by Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni, who noted that the decision provides legal certainty and will accelerate land preparation.

Both ministers emphasized that the forest‑area use must be orderly, measured and compliant with existing regulations, while ensuring environmental sustainability. With the decree now in force, the Army can proceed with building the new battalion bases on the designated sites.