FILE PHOTO: An illegal gold mine in Bandar Limabung village in Mandailing Natal on April 29, 2022. Owners of businesses operating illegal mines and plantations will be ordered to return some of their profits to the state. - AFP
JAKARTA: Indonesia's forestry task force is planning a crackdown starting September 1 on mines operating without proper permits in around 4.27 million hectares of forest areas, an official said on Thursday (Aug 28).
The task force already launched what it called a "disciplinary operation" against illegal palm oil production in March, sending military personnel to take over 3.3 million hectares of plantations. Some of the plantations have been handed over to a new state company called Agrinas Palma Nusantara.
